According to police, a suspect armed with an AR-15 style rifle shot several victims at a property in Cleveland, Texas, a small town located approximately 55 miles north of Houston.
The incident was reported to the San Jacinto County Sheriff’s Office around 11:31 p.m. local time after a call about harassment. Unfortunately, five people have died as a result of the shooting.
FOX3 News has reported that the shooting resulted in the death of an 8-year-old child, who was the youngest victim.
Additionally, two female victims were found lying on top of two surviving children in a bedroom. According to authorities, the suspect, who is a Mexican male, was intoxicated and armed with an AR-15 style rifle.
They are currently searching for a Hispanic male who is about 5’8″ tall, with short black hair, last seen wearing blue jeans, a black shirt, and work boots.
As per the San Jacinto County Sheriff’s Office, the Mexican male suspect has a history of shooting his 223 rifle in his front yard, which is supported by the shell casings found in the area.
The police arrived at the scene to find 10 people present in the home, with victims ranging from 8 to 40 years of age. Local residents of Cleveland, Texas, are advised to avoid the crime scene and stay indoors until the investigation is complete.
Although the police did not reveal the identity, ages, or potential connection to the suspect, they did confirm that the shooting occurred at a single residence, and all the victims were of Honduran origin.
Four of the victims were pronounced dead at the location, while the fifth victim succumbed to injuries at the hospital. The investigation is ongoing, and the area is being treated as an active crime scene.
However, authorities have stated that they do not believe the suspect is currently in the vicinity, despite being on the run.
Cleveland Mass Shooting: 5 dead including 8-year-old