HARRIS COUNTY, Texas – A busy north Harris County strip mall by became a crime scene after a shootout around 1:50 a.m. Monday, authorities said.
According to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, around 50 shots rang out in the parking lot of a shopping center near FM 1960 and Red Oak.
Two groups of people fired several rounds at each other while hundreds of people were in the parking lot, deputies said. So many shots were fired, authorities said they ran out of evidence markers for bullet casings.
“(There were) numerous reports of shots being fired here in the parking lot at the El Corral bar and the O bar,” said Harris County Sheriff’s Deputy David Angstadt. " It is not uncommon for patrons to leave bars and fight in the g lot and in this case, the groups exchanged gunfire for some reason."
According to deputies, one person was shot twice - once in the face – before “ He drove himself to a nearby hospital, where he is now in critical condition,” Angstadt said.
After the crime scene tape came down KPRC2 reporter Vincent Crivelli saw bullet holes throughout the parking lot including through a car and a church's window, just feet away from child’s daycare.
“That bothers us of course. Of course we are going to pray,” said Irma Leving who attends the First Fruit Christian Center.
Leving has this message for the people who fired shots in the parking lot of her church. “Pray, ask God for direction and guidance and stop taking things and matters into your own hands/"
Investigators are searching the parking lot and the gunshot victim’s car for clues to determine what exactly happened.
No arrests have been made in the case.
Anyone with information is being asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.