Five people are dead after being shot in a home by a suspect armed with AR-15 style rifle, police say.
(Photo : KTRK)
Five people are dead after being shot in a home by a suspect armed with AR-15 style rifle, police say.

Five people, including an eight-year-old child, were shot to death early Saturday morning in southern San Jacinto County, Texas. The incident happened shortly after 11:31 p.m. on Friday when officials from the San Jacinto County Sheriff's Office received a call about a harassment incident in Cleveland, Texas. When authorities arrived at the property in the Trail End Subdivision west of Cleveland, they found four victims shot dead. A fifth person died at a local hospital. Three others, who were covered in blood, were taken to the hospital, but it is unclear if they were injured or if the blood belonged to the other victims.

According to Sheriff Greg Capers, the victims were from Honduras and a total of 10 people were living in the house. Of those killed, four were adults, one male, and three females, while the youngest was just eight years old. The three other victims who were taken to the hospital were children. "When we got here, the two females in the bedroom were actually laying over the top of the younger children, two of the three younger children" that survived, Capers said.

Allegedly drunk Mexican male suspect sought in Texas shooting that left 5 dead.

The suspect, described as a Mexican male armed with an AR-15-style rifle, is believed to have been intoxicated at the time of the shooting. The San Jacinto County Sheriff's Office described the suspect as someone who has been known to shoot a firearm in the front yard of the residence. Police found shell casings there. The sheriff's office has a copy of his consular identification card. The suspect is not believed to be in the area.

Residents in and around the Cleveland, Texas area were told by police to stay inside and stay clear of the crime scene until the investigation has concluded. An investigation into the shooting is ongoing.