A juvenile was dead and four other people were hospitalized after being shot Sunday night following a “disturbance” at a Houston-area flea market, police in Pearland, Texas, said.
The shooter or shooters were at large amid an active investigation, Pearland police said in a statement.
Two of the victims were minors, police spokesperson Chad Rogers said at an evening news conference. The police department later said on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, that “one of the juvenile victims has died of their injuries.”
All five victims had been hospitalized, according to the department’s statement. Their conditions were unavailable.
Cole’s Flea Market in Pearland, Texas.Google Maps / Google Maps
Police responded to Cole’s Flea Market in Pearland, a city about 21 miles south of Houston, based on a 5:34 p.m. report of shots fired, the department said.
Rogers said the shooting was the result of issues between two people at the location and wasn’t random. It’s possible there were two shooters, he said.
“This started because there was a disturbance between two individuals at the flea market that resulted in gunfire,” the spokesperson said, noting the information was preliminary.
“It does not appear to be any kind of targeted attack on the flea market,” Rogers added.
Houston police and Harris County authorities were assisting Pearland police with their investigation and search for any suspects, NBC affiliate KPRC of Houston reported.
No suspect description or possible vehicle information was immediately available.
Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday announced a $15,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in connection with the shooting.
“Texas mourns the loss of a precious child following the devastating tragedy in Pearland yesterday, and our hearts are with the four other victims in the hospital as they recover from their injuries,” he said in a statement.
Abbott promised the state will support local law enforcement to ensure “the perpetrators of this crime are caught and brought to justice.”
Dennis Romero
Dennis Romero is a breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital.
Gemma DiCasimirroJosh Cradduck
Assignment Editor, NBC News
Joe Kottke and Marlene Lenthangcontributed.