Houston, TX (KTRK) — A gunman who allegedly set fire to lure in neighbors and killed three people was shot dead by Houston police on Sunday morning in southwest Houston, investigators said.
Around 1:00 am, authorities responded to the fire and one down at 8020 Dunlap Street.
When the Houston Fire Department arrived on the scene, firefighters said the suspects began firing and evacuated them.
When officers from the Houston Police Department arrived moments later, they spotted the suspect and opened fire, officials said.
HPD confirmed the suspect was deceased and described it as a black man in his 40s.
Investigators said they believed the suspect started the fire, prompting neighbors to come out of their homes and open fire.
HPD chief Troy Finner believes the suspect may have been a disgruntled tenant who was forced to evict and took retaliatory actions against other people living in the neighborhood.
“Our officer has arrived and taken action, and I am very proud of him. He is a seven-year veteran of the Southern Gessner Division. is taking a leave of absence,” Finner said.
Finner said three victims were taken to hospital and pronounced dead.
ABC13 spoke with the landlord of an apartment rental complex.
According to the landlord, one of the victims was the manager of a rental apartment for 33 years.
Property manager German Shepherd “Duke” fled in the commotion, the landlord said.
Investigators told Eyewitness News at the scene that two additional victims survived with injuries.
Investigators believe the victims were all residents living in the area.
“It’s shocking. I thought it was a house fire. Now that I know all this, I’m like, ‘Wow! I couldn’t believe the shooting and the bodies lying around. I inhaled the smoke and thought there was a dead body lying around here. They were trying to drag this man and another man,” said neighbor Troy Lam.
The American Red Cross arrived to provide relief and resources to affected neighborhoods.
The landlord estimates that there are 10 completely uninhabitable units.
The suspect had lived there since 2013 but had not paid rent, according to the landlord.
The landlord said the suspect was evicted and turned in the keys on Saturday.
“It’s really crazy. It’s a brutal murder. I mean, the man lost his head. I don’t know. We’ll handle it one way or another. Little by little. Each individual. Live here.” Some guys in the country, they’re going to have to find another place to live,” Ram said.
Police recovered a shotgun and are investigating the cause of the fire, which appears to be arson.
The victim’s identity is withheld until the family is notified.
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Source: abc13.com
