4 Dead, Including Suspect, After Texas Gunman Goes on Shooting Spree Across 2 Cities

Four people have died, including the suspect, following a series of shootings thought to be connected in the Houston area, authorities have said.

On Wednesday, Oct. 8, just before 1 p.m. local time, authorities responded to a shooting in the 12900 block of Dairy Ashford Road in the city of Sugar Land, which is southwest of Houston, per a press release shared on the Sugar Land Police Department’s (SLPD) Facebook page.

“Upon arriving on the scene within minutes, SLPD officers discovered one female, with several gunshot wounds, in the driver seat of a white SUV that had gone off the road,” SLPD said.

“Two civilian witnesses assisted as officers performed lifesaving measures until EMS arrived shortly thereafter, transporting the woman to Ben Taub Hospital, where she was pronounced deceased,” police continued.

Officers “immediately distributed” a “Be On the Look Out” alert of the suspect vehicle, a gray SUV, to nearby agencies, police said in the post.

“At this time, we have learned the suspect and victim had a relationship and that this incident was not a random act of road-rage violence,” the SLPD added, confirming officers were “coordinating with the Houston Police Department to understand the connection, if any, to two more shootings and a suicide within Houston city limits.”

Approximately 30 minutes after the Sugar Land shooting, the same gunman was thought to have shot a mechanic around six miles away following an altercation at an auto shop southwest of downtown Houston, NBC News reported, citing Houston Police lieutenant Larry Crowson.

“We just know that the guy involved in the shooting there in Sugar Land drove to this location, went to the mechanic shop,” the officer said during a news conference, per the outlet.

Crowson said that as the shooter was leaving the location, somebody from a nearby warehouse started recording the incident, before the gunman shot the witness, NBC News stated.

The vehicle the suspect had been driving has been connected to the two shootings, Crowson added, per Fox News.

The man had been driving a silver Ford Escape, with his description also linking him to the killings, NBC News reported, citing police.

The Houston Police Department said the suspected shooter had died by suicide. 

Police said in a post on X on Wednesday evening, “Southwest officers are at a shooting scene 13400 Fondren. Two adult male deceased at the scene.” 

“Possible suspect was located at 8000 Creekbend with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Detectives are coordinating with Sugar Land PD on a homicide investigation in their city,” the post concluded.

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.  

The victims and the suspected shooter have not been identified by authorities. Police didn’t go into detail about a possible motive.

The Houston Police Department and the Sugar Land Police Department did not immediately respond when contacted by PEOPLE for additional information.