Standoff ends after 6 killed, 1 wounded in Texas home shooting
HOUSTON -- Four children and two adults have been fatally shot, and a mother is fighting for her life after a family member opened fire inside a north Harris County home, investigators say. And hours after a standoff, the suspect finally surrendered himself to authorities.
The bodies were discovered at a home in the 700 block of Leaflet Lane near Interstate 45 and Cypresswood. According to the Harris County Sheriff's Office, three children and two adults died at the scene, while a mother and a child were transported via LifeFlight to a hospital. That child has since died and the mother, though in critical condition, is now the lone survivor of the attack.
Harris County Pct. 4 deputies say the mother was shot in the head but managed to call 911 and tell them that a family member was the gunman. She told deputies he was going to a restaurant to kill another family member who works there.
Deputies intercepted the suspect and gave chase. The pursuit lasted only a few minutes and never seemed to reach high speeds. The chase ended in a cul-de-sac and there's currently a standoff underway. Residents in the area have been evacuated.
"They actually knocked on the door, my boyfriend answered. And he was like, 'Can y'all get out as quick as possible?'" witness Samantha Aytes said. "I was like pretty freaked out because nothing ever happens in spring. So I just wasn't expecting it at all."
The suspect has locked himself in the vehicle and authorities are trying to negotiate with him. Deputies say the suspect, who's in his mid 40s, has a gun to his head.
Back at the scene on Leaflet, neighbors say the family has lived here for some time.
"It's just a terrible thing. I don't know what could have happened. " neighbor Dale Collier said. "Just a bad deal, bad, bad deal. You wouldn't think something like that would happen in a neighborhood like this. It's real quiet, never anything going on."
