4 dead after evicted man sets rental property ablaze, shoots occupants as they flee

A Houston, Texas man allegedly shot and killed three people on Sunday after he set their home ablaze and then started his shotgun at residents as they fled the fiery building, picking them off one by one. The gunman was later killed by police.

According to the Washington Post, Houston Police Chief Troy Finner said, "I’ve seen things that I haven’t seen before in 32 years. And it’s happened time and time again, and people ask the police chief and police leaders, 'Why?' And we don’t even know right now. We just ask that the community come together."

Three victims died, two men at the scene and one at a nearby hospital, while another was taken to a hospital for gunshot wounds to his arm. Another victim had minor injuries treated on scene.

All the gunman's victims were men between the ages of 40 and 60.

Police responded to the scene, and the unidentified gunman was fatally shot by a seven-year veteran police officer, who is now on administrative leave, as per Houston Police Department policy.

The incident occurred just after 1 am early Sunday morning. Neighbors called authorities about a fire and a shooting at a nearby home which was used as a rental home for various tenants.

The fire department arrived on the scene first but quickly sought cover as the unidentified shooter, who was draped all in black, started allegedly shooting at the firefighters. When police later arrived, the shotgun carrying culprit had made it to a nearby parking lot where he was fatally shot by the officer.

Police Chief Finner said that the gunman, who was in his 40s, was recently informed that he was evicted from the premises. "That may have been a trigger point for him, but I don’t know," Finner added. "That’s part of the investigation."

No names, either of the victims or of the gunman, have been released while both the DA and police agency conduct parallel and separate investigations.