PEARLAND, TX- A tragic shooting occurred at a Texas flea market over the weekend, leaving one child dead and several others shot. The victims included three children and two adults. One of the minors, a 10-year-old boy, succumbed to his injuries at a local hospital.
According to authorities with the Pearland Police Department (PPD), police were dispatched to Cole's Flea Market in response to reports of a shooting on Sunday at approximately at 5:30 p.m.
All the victims were transported to the hospital, where a 16-year-old boy was undergoing surgery for his wounds. An 18-year-old man and a 14-year-old girl were being treated and resting comfortably. The final victim, a 37-year-old man, was treated and released. Names of the victims were not immediately available.
According to Officer Chad Rogers with PPD, an argument took place between two individuals that escalated to shots being fired. Both people were armed with handguns.
Rogers went on to say, “No, this is not anything that happens in Pearland. It is extremely tragic anytime someone is a victim of gun violence, especially in our community. This does not happen here in Pearland."
The flea market is approximately 17 miles south of Houston in the town of Pearland. At approximately 5:30 p.m. authorities were called to Cole's Vintage Antiques Flea Market in response to shots fired and people being down. It appears that neither party knew each other before the argument ensued.
It was not known if the older victims were a party to the shooting or even knew those involved in the argument.
At this time, one suspect is in custody and the other is still at large. No details were available on the shooter still being sought.
PPD posted this to Twitter warning folks about the tragic occurrence and to remind citizens to be on the lookout for the suspect: “Sunday, 11/12 at 5:34 P.M., Pearland PD dispatched to Cole’s Flea Market at 1014 North Main, in reference to shots fired. Five victims were discovered and transported to nearby hospitals. The suspect is still at large. Active investigation, please avoid the area.”
The flea market is usually busy on the weekends and open all day on Sunday. Officer Rogers commented that the flea market is “normally bustling with thousands of shoppers.”
He also went on to say that it was not believed that the flea market was targeted relative to the shooting.
At this time no further information is available.
Comments