Houston Police shoot gunman after random road attack

HOUSTON: Police in Houston shot and wounded an armed man after he allegedly opened fire at passing vehicles, injuring three people, including a mother and her daughter, US media reported.

The incident unfolded on Saturday, with police receiving a report of the shooting at around 11am. Officers rushed to the scene after reports that an armed individual was firing at vehicles travelling along the road.

According to police, officers ordered the man to drop his weapon when they arrived. The suspect allegedly failed to comply, prompting officers to open fire.

Police said the man was struck by multiple rounds and was taken to hospital for treatment. His current condition and identity have not been released.

No police officers were reported injured during the confrontation.

Witnesses described a frightening scene in which the gunman stood in the middle section of the roadway and appeared to fire indiscriminately at vehicles passing by.

One witness told local media that the shooter seemed unconcerned about which vehicles he was targeting and that some of the cars had children inside.

Police said a mother and her daughter were among those wounded after they were shot while travelling in one vehicle. A third person in another vehicle was also injured.

All three victims were transported to hospital. Authorities have not immediately released details about their conditions.

The motive behind the shooting remains unclear, and investigators are working to establish what led to the attack and whether the suspect knew any of the victims.

The incident has once again raised concerns about random gun violence in public places, particularly when busy roads and passing motorists become targets.

Police have urged anyone who witnessed the shooting or has relevant information to cooperate with investigators as the inquiry continues.

Authorities are expected to review witness accounts, surveillance footage and other evidence gathered from the scene as they work to reconstruct the sequence of events.

Officials have not yet announced whether the suspect will face charges, with the investigation still underway.