This story was originally posted on Jan 21, 2024 at 4:12 p.m. and was updated with new information at 5:12 a.m. on Jan. 22.
KATY, TX (Covering Katy News) - Three people are dead, and the Harris County Sheriff's Office has provided an update saying "multiple" people were injured following an early Sunday morning shooting at a house in unincorporated Katy, Harris County. The subdivision where the shooting happened is near Clay and North Fry roads.
"At approximately 2:14 a.m., Harris County Sheriff's Deputies responded to an in-progress life in danger call," Senior Deputy Thomas Gilliland told Covering Katy News.
There was a birthday party with at least 10 to 15 adults in the home.
By early evening the Sheriff's office released a statement that provided more information on the number of people who were detained for questioning, injured and transported to the hospital.
"Harris County Sheriff's Office District 4 units responded to the residence after multiple calls for service came in for numerous shots fired with multiple injuries," the statement said. "Once patrol deputies arrived, they detained multiple witnesses and attended to the wounded. Three adult males were transported to three different hospitals, while an adult male and female were confirmed deceased on scene."
The statement also said one adult male died shortly after arriving at the hospital and that detectives used video and witness statement to determine what happened.
"Homicide investigators viewed videos from security cameras and witness cell phones in attempt to piece together what had actually occurred and why," the Sheriff's Office statement said.
Sheriff Ed Gonzalez described the scene as "very chaotic and dangerous" due to "random gunfire" inside and outside of the house. There have been no arrests.
Neighbors on Russet Leaf Trace said they did not know the people who lived at the home which is reportedly a short-term rental. More than twelve hours after the shootings, some of those neighbors were arriving home, unable to access their driveways because crime scene tape was blocking the road as investigators were still there working the case. They were shaken when they learned what happened.
Detectives found that prior to the shooting there was altercation between two or more people at the party. Gunshots were fired inside the house and outside on the street. Not all of the shooters have been identified and at this time it is unclear who fired the fatal shots.
None of the victim's names have been released to the media because not all of the victim's relatives have been notified.
There is at least one suspect who is still on the run according to Gilliland.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the Harris County Sheriff's Office Homicide Unit at 713-274-9100 or Crime Stoppers of Houston at 713-222-TIPS (8477).