HOUSTON, TX — A deadly series of shootings that stretched from Sugar Land to southwest Houston on Thursday afternoon has left three victims and the suspect dead, according to authorities. One of the Houston victims has been identified as Hector Vasquez, a mechanic who was killed while working at his auto shop. Police say the rampage unfolded across multiple locations within a short timeframe, prompting a large-scale investigation involving both Sugar Land and Houston police.
The violence began around 12:30 p.m. when Sugar Land officers responded to reports of gunfire near Dairy Ashford Road and U.S. Highway 90. Investigators said the incident started as a road rage confrontation that quickly escalated into a deadly shooting. Responding officers found a woman inside her vehicle suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Despite emergency aid, she was later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. The suspect, driving a gray Ford Escape, fled the scene before police arrived.
Roughly an hour later, at about 1:30 p.m., Houston police were called to a mechanic shop near Fondren Road and Main Street following reports of another shooting. Investigators said a man driving a vehicle matching the Sugar Land suspect’s description arrived at the shop and got into an argument with a mechanic. The confrontation turned violent when the suspect pulled out a gun and shot the mechanic multiple times. A witness who tried to record the encounter on his cellphone was also shot and killed. One of the victims has been identified as Hector Vasquez.
A short time later, officers found the gray Ford Escape parked near the 8000 block of Creekbend Drive, just a few miles from the Houston crime scene. When police approached the vehicle, they discovered the suspect dead inside from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Authorities believe the same person was responsible for all three shootings, which they are investigating as connected incidents.
In total, three innocent victims were killed in the rampage — one woman in Sugar Land and two men in Houston, including Vasquez. Investigators are still working to identify the suspect and determine what motivated the violent spree. Police said there is no ongoing threat to the public.
Officials described the case as a “tragic and senseless act of violence” that unfolded across two cities within hours. Several roadways in both Sugar Land and southwest Houston remained closed for much of the afternoon as detectives gathered evidence and processed multiple crime scenes.