Three people were shot and killed at two separate locations in the Houston area Wednesday before a person believed to be responsible for the violence died by suicide at a third location, authorities said.
The deadly sequence began in Sugar Land, where a woman was shot multiple times shortly before 1 p.m. in the 12900 block of Dairy Ashford Road near U.S. 90. Police said the woman was found inside a white SUV that had left the roadway. Two civilians attempted to help before she was transported to Ben Taub Hospital, where she later died from her injuries.
Investigators believe the woman was shot by a man with whom she had a relationship. Authorities initially investigated the incident as a possible road-rage shooting before determining that the circumstances were connected to the other shootings.
Around 1:30 p.m., Houston police responded to another shooting at a mechanic shop in the 13000 block of Fondren Road in southwest Houston. Two adult men were found dead at the scene. According to police, a man driving a gray Ford Escape matching the description of the vehicle involved in the earlier shooting became involved in an altercation with a mechanic and opened fire. A witness who was recording the incident was also shot and killed as the gunman fled, authorities said.
The suspected shooter was later located inside the same vehicle around 2 p.m. in the 8000 block of Creekbend Drive. Police said he had died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Investigators said early indications suggested the shootings were connected and were working to establish a motive and reconstruct the events. The incidents left multiple families grieving and prompted a significant law-enforcement response across the Houston area.
Authorities urged anyone with information about the shootings to cooperate with investigators as the case continues.