Several people hurt after shooter opens fire in Houston strip mall
HOUSTON -- Several people were injured and a shooting suspect was taken down by police after he opened fire at a strip mall in southwest Houston.
Many questions remain as to a motive for the violent shooting at the Randalls supermarket strip center on Weslayan at Bissonnet.
While officials said the shooter had been 'neutralized,' they would not elaborate on his injuries.
Houston Fire Department says six people were taken to area hospitals after they were injured by the reported shooter.
A shelter-in-place was ordered shortly before HPD confirmed the alleged shooter was shot by one of its officers. We do not yet know the condition of the suspected shooter.
Weslayan remains closed to traffic while officers investigate the scene. Meantime, a triage center has been set up and EMS is treating victims at the scene.
An HPD bomb squad was called to the scene after a suspicious vehicle was found near the scene.
West University Elementary School said it would open on time in spite of the shooting investigation.
At around 6:30 this morning, HFD scanners reported a suspect was at a strip center firing upon vehicles. The suspect was described as a black male with a revolver.
"We received a call at 6:29 that we had a shooting at the Petco store...the first units were directed to the parking lot where the shooting was still active," HFD's Jay Evans says.
"We now have approximately 20 EMS personnel vehicles on scene. We do not know, we do not have a count at this time as to how many people have been shot, but all of the people will be directed to local hospitals in the area that are going to be victims."
Emergency vehicles flooded the area around the strip center bordered by Weslayan, Bissonnet and Law Street.
Antoine Wilson witnesses the shooting and told ABC11's sister-station KTRK he was shaken up after being caught in the crossfire.
"I literally heard the gunshots past my face," Wilson says. "It's a hard pill to swallow."
Wilson said there was a steady shooting back and forth as officers worked to bring the active shooting situation to a close.
VIDEO: Witness describes active shooter situation in SW Houston
Police concentrated much of their focus during the shooting on an apartment complex on nearby Law Street, located behind the strip center.
HFD officials reported on radio that the suspect was seen behind some trees as he opened fire on vehicles in the area.
KTRK's news crew saw firefighters and officers running up and down the street as the gunfire continued. They reported seeing bodies on the ground as officers ran between cars and buildings in search for the suspect.
