Houston crime: Shooting outside Heart nightclub on Washington Avenue leaves 1 dead, 2 injured

HOUSTON, TX (KTRK) — Police are looking for a gunman who shot and killed a man outside a club on Washington Avenue early Monday morning. Two other men were also shot dead.

Investigators said they felt good about finding the shooter quickly.

The shooting happened just after 2 a.m. outside the Heart nightclub in Washington, near Sandman Street.

Houston police said the shots were fired during an argument between two men over a woman.

An off-duty officer working extra work was the first to hear the gunshots, police said. He discovered the first victim, a 33-year-old man, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

The other two men who were shot, aged 37 and 36, were discovered by police upon arrival. They were taken to local hospitals in good condition, police said. One of the men was shot in the arm and the other in the leg.

An initial investigation revealed that one of the surviving men who was shot was a security guard working in the area.

Police believe he was trying to break up the fight and was hit by a stray bullet, although details are still unclear.

A lieutenant at the scene said the guard who was shot did not appear to be a police officer.

“From speaking with the off-duty officers working there, I’m assuming there’s a security gate guy there as well,” Lt. JP Horelica said. “I think he saw the initial disturbance and was heading towards them when the shots rang out, one of the shells hitting him.”

Investigators said the guard was unarmed.

Investigators initially thought the two surviving victims had been hit by stray bullets, but later learned that one of the men had gone to grab a gun and accidentally shot himself in the leg.

Police said surveillance video showed the victim running away from the shooter as she searched through a bag to grab a gun. It was then that he allegedly shot himself in the leg.

The HPD said it has plenty of information, witnesses and video to hopefully catch the shooter quickly.

Police say the shooter and the woman they believe were involved fled the scene in a white Jeep Cherokee. Investigators believe they know both of their identities.

Anyone with information in this case is asked to contact the HPD Homicide Division at 713-308-3600 or speak anonymously with Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.

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