KFD147
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http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/front/2966043
Dec. 27, 2004, 12:22AM
One dead, 3 wounded in shootout
Fight begins at an apartment and finally ends inside a grocery store
By MIKE GLENN and PAIGE HEWITT
Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle
One man was killed and at least three others wounded in a running gunbattle Sunday that started at a southeast Houston apartment complex, continued in the streets and ended inside a nearby grocery store, police said.
The unidentified man died at Ben Taub Hospital from wounds suffered in the 4 p.m. shootout that came to an end inside the H-E-B supermarket at Old Spanish Trail and Scott.
Police said the shooting started as a drug-related robbery. Police said two men went to a southeast Houston apartment in search of drugs and shot two residents there. As the suspects fled on foot, relatives of the shooting victims pursued them in a sport utility vehicle that had been reported stolen, police said.
Police said the men on foot and in the SUV exchanged gunfire in the street. Police said the suspects finally ran to the H-E-B for cover as they were pursued by the men in the SUV.
"It appears that it was a running gunbattle from the apartments over here into the store," said HPD Sgt. David Crain.
At least 40 rounds were fired outside and inside the H-E-B, police said, and a rifle, a handgun and narcotics were recovered at the scenes.
"We've got gunshots fired all through this H-E-B store," Crain said.
Police had at least three people in custody and also were questioning a store security guard.
"We understand that he discharged his firearm at these people as they were running through here shooting," Crain said.
Crain also said investigators were analyzing footage from store security cameras. "The video is very telling," he said.
Two men were shot at the apartment, including the slain man, and two more shot at the store, but police said they may not have been the only people hit.
"There were a lot of people that were fleeing here who could also have been shot that we don't know about," Crain said.
H-E-B customer Karen Torrens usually shops on Saturday but the store was closed for the Christmas holiday. She said she was in the check-out line Sunday when she heard several gunshots.
"That's when I fell to the floor," she said. "I was scared like hell, pardon my French."
Torrens said a cashier immediately threw her to the ground before covering her with his own body.
"He was protecting me. I can't say enough good things about him," said Torrens, referring to the cashier she knows as "Montel."
Detectives at the scene questioned about 20 employees who were inside the grocery store when the armed men entered and opened fire.
Crain did not know how many shoppers were in the store when the gunfire erupted.
Several stunned members of the community stood behind the crime scene tape stretched in front of the store.
Felesia Turner-Lawson works for H-E-B but at a different store. She lives down the street and came over after a family member told her about the shooting.
"I'm definitely concerned because this is my neighborhood," she said. "I've never seen anything like this. It hits home."
What if!
This happened to you while CCW in the checkout line at the store. The bad guys are shooting at each other and coming in the front doors. You are in danger from stray bullets and shooters that don't care what else they hit trying to kill their target.
Any comments on the course of action you would take.
Thanks
Jason
Dec. 27, 2004, 12:22AM
One dead, 3 wounded in shootout
Fight begins at an apartment and finally ends inside a grocery store
By MIKE GLENN and PAIGE HEWITT
Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle
One man was killed and at least three others wounded in a running gunbattle Sunday that started at a southeast Houston apartment complex, continued in the streets and ended inside a nearby grocery store, police said.
The unidentified man died at Ben Taub Hospital from wounds suffered in the 4 p.m. shootout that came to an end inside the H-E-B supermarket at Old Spanish Trail and Scott.
Police said the shooting started as a drug-related robbery. Police said two men went to a southeast Houston apartment in search of drugs and shot two residents there. As the suspects fled on foot, relatives of the shooting victims pursued them in a sport utility vehicle that had been reported stolen, police said.
Police said the men on foot and in the SUV exchanged gunfire in the street. Police said the suspects finally ran to the H-E-B for cover as they were pursued by the men in the SUV.
"It appears that it was a running gunbattle from the apartments over here into the store," said HPD Sgt. David Crain.
At least 40 rounds were fired outside and inside the H-E-B, police said, and a rifle, a handgun and narcotics were recovered at the scenes.
"We've got gunshots fired all through this H-E-B store," Crain said.
Police had at least three people in custody and also were questioning a store security guard.
"We understand that he discharged his firearm at these people as they were running through here shooting," Crain said.
Crain also said investigators were analyzing footage from store security cameras. "The video is very telling," he said.
Two men were shot at the apartment, including the slain man, and two more shot at the store, but police said they may not have been the only people hit.
"There were a lot of people that were fleeing here who could also have been shot that we don't know about," Crain said.
H-E-B customer Karen Torrens usually shops on Saturday but the store was closed for the Christmas holiday. She said she was in the check-out line Sunday when she heard several gunshots.
"That's when I fell to the floor," she said. "I was scared like hell, pardon my French."
Torrens said a cashier immediately threw her to the ground before covering her with his own body.
"He was protecting me. I can't say enough good things about him," said Torrens, referring to the cashier she knows as "Montel."
Detectives at the scene questioned about 20 employees who were inside the grocery store when the armed men entered and opened fire.
Crain did not know how many shoppers were in the store when the gunfire erupted.
Several stunned members of the community stood behind the crime scene tape stretched in front of the store.
Felesia Turner-Lawson works for H-E-B but at a different store. She lives down the street and came over after a family member told her about the shooting.
"I'm definitely concerned because this is my neighborhood," she said. "I've never seen anything like this. It hits home."
What if!
This happened to you while CCW in the checkout line at the store. The bad guys are shooting at each other and coming in the front doors. You are in danger from stray bullets and shooters that don't care what else they hit trying to kill their target.
Any comments on the course of action you would take.
Thanks
Jason
