HOUSTON — A manhunt is underway for the gunman who shot five people, killing one of them, at an after-hours lounge, according to Houston police.
The shooting happened around 4:30 Sunday morning at a strip mall along the Gulf Freeway near College Avenue.
According to police, the shooting started as a confrontation in the parking lot when the gunman approached a man and his friends in the parking lot and flashed a gun. The man convinced him to put the gun away and settled the confrontation outside.
Thinking the issue was settled, the group went into the bar when they noticed they were followed by the gunman who flashed his gun at them again before opening fire. Four people were injured and another has died.
Here's the update provided by police at the scene:
Police said the shooting could have been worse if it wasn't for the actions of an officer nearby conducting a separate investigation.
"Fortunately our officer was nearby and was flagged down and was able to approach the scene and make it safe," HPD Assistant Chief Ben Tien said. "The most important thing is to provide first aid."
Tien said they know who the gunman is and that it is their priority to get him in custody.
One woman who owns a business near where the shooting took place said she's not surprised it happened considering what she saw after hours.
"This whole parking lot is full with hundreds of people," she said. "People stumbling out of their cars because they're already too drunk to be served.
She's calling for more accountability when it comes to places serving alcohol after the 2:15 a.m. cutoff set in place by Texas law.
"I went to TABC four times, took pictures, the name of the places, nothing's been done," she said. "I have all kinds of bartender friends that they would love to go work in an after-hours but they don't want to get busted."
Houston police say they're trying to get ahead of this issue.
"There are a lot of neighborhoods with those so-called after-hours bars popped up and sometimes, most of them are not under our radar," Tien said. "I encourage the public, if you see those kinds of activities please let us know."