HOUSTON – Police were on the scene for hours Wednesday investigating in southwest Houston.
One person was killed and and two others are in the hospital.
Police are investigating the shooting as a possible drug deal gone bad.
"The officers followed a blood trail inside the apartment, and it shows some evidence of criminal activity, possibly drug sales. We're investigating this to see if it's a drug deal possibly gone bad," Sgt. Nathan Rosenblatt said.
Police responded to the scene after a witness stopped an officer on patrol and reported a shooting.
The shooting was reported shortly after 6 p.m. in an apartment at 6655 Atwell St.
According to officials two men purchased narcotics from a man in the apartment complex and then used the drugs in the parking lot of the complex.
Police said the two men walked back up to the drug dealer and asked to purchase more drugs. However, things took a turn for the worse and one of the men trying to buy drugs began to stab the drug dealer and the dealer's friend in the apartment, according to authorities.
The dealer retrieved a pistol and started to shoot at the two men, police said.
Police said the 38-year-old dealer's friend died from his stab wounds.
The accused dealer was taken to Memorial Hermann Hospital Southwest in stable condition and the man who was trying to buy drugs and was shot was taken to Ben Taub Hospital in critical condition.
There is a late-night day care facility nearby, and parents picked up their children all night.
"They come here every single day. I always come through here. It's really quiet. I'm just shocked to see any of this going on. I mean, I was just shocked. I just can't believe in this area that this is going on," Lisa Swearington said.
They said all the people who were shot are between 18 and 30 years old, but no identities have been released.
Homicide detectives are at the scene.