HOUSTON -- A disgruntled lawyer who had numerous weapons randomly shot at drivers in a Houston neighbourhood Monday morning, hitting six people, one critically, before he was shot and killed by police, authorities said. Another three people had injuries from glass or debris.
Authorities first received a report of the shootings at about 6:30 a.m., Police Chief Martha Montalvo said at a news conference, and the man began firing at officers when they arrived.
Montalvo did not identify the man. A bomb-squad robot examined a Porsche that police said belonged to the gunman; Texas motor vehicle records in a commercially available database showed the car is licensed to Nathan DeSai at an address in the condo complex. The property manager of the condo complex also confirmed that police were going through DeSai's residence.
Calls placed to phone numbers connected to DeSai and his father were not immediately answered.
Mayor Sylvester Turner told KTRK-TV that DeSai was a lawyer who was "disgruntled" and was "either fired or had a bad relationship with this law firm." But DeSai's former law partner, Kenneth McDaniel, disputed that assertion, saying they jointly closed their 12-year-old law firm in February due to economic conditions related to Houston's energy industry downturn.
McDaniel also said he'd had no contact with DeSai lately and that police called him Monday morning to check on his safety, though they didn't explain why.
DeSai's father, Prakash DeSai, told Houston television station KTRK that his son lived in the condo complex and drives a black Porsche. He also said his son, whom he saw Sunday, was upset because "his law practice is not going well" and stays upset "because of his personal problems."
The entrance to the condo complex, which is in southwest Houston near the affluent enclave of West University Place, was blocked off with police tape late Monday morning. Several cars with bullet holes and shattered windows were at a nearby strip mall.
Jennifer Molleda and her husband live in the same condo complex as Nathan DeSai. Though she heard gunshots about 6:12 a.m. and called 911, her husband left for work. The 45-year-old called him not long after, and he told her "I'm hit, I'm hit."
After the shooting stopped at 7:15 a.m., Molleda found her husband, 49-year-old Alan Wakim, several blocks away in the parking lot of a nearby strip mall. His Mustang had two shots that went through the windshield, and he told her that he saw a red laser beam before the shots were fired. He was taken to a hospital to be treated.
"He got out of his car, we hugged, we cried," Molleda said, adding that after she saw everything, she believes DeSai was "aiming to kill."
Molleda said she didn't know DeSai very well, and described him as quiet. "He's a normal, average Joe," she said.
Jason Delgado, the property manager of The Oaks at West University condo complex, said DeSai was involved in two recent incidents at the complex.
In August, Delgado said, police were called after roofers working in the complex said DeSai pointed an assault-style rifle at them. He says there wasn't enough evidence to move forward with charges because the man contended he didn't point the gun at roofers. Molleda mentioned the same incident.
And last week, DeSai became upset because of water pressure problems at his home, asked for maintenance help and expressed his displeasure in an email to the management firm that implied he'd "intimidate his way to getting what he was asking for," Delgado said.
Another witness, 30-year-old Antwon Wilson, inadvertently drove into the shooting scene after dropping off his girlfriend at work and could "literally hear the gunfire flying." He managed to flee and escape injury.
Lee Williams left his home in the neighbourhood upon hearing gunshots and began directing traffic away from the condo complex, noting that people usually cut through the area to avoid some busier intersections. One car ignored him, he said, and was immediately shot at. Williams couldn't see the gunman because it was dark, but believed he saw the muzzle flashes.
"Whatever cars were going by, he was shooting at them," the 55-year-old said, noting he heard at least 50 gunshots over 40 or so minutes. As he was being interviewed, neighbours came by and patted him on the back, thanking him for keeping people safe.
Of the nine people hurt, Houston Fire Department spokesman Ruy Lozano said six were shot and three had minor injuries related to glass. Montalvo said one person was hospitalized in critical condition and another in serious condition.
- Associated Press writers Michael Graczyk contributed to this report.
