Forum Post: Shots fired near Occupy Houston protests
Posted 12 years ago on Nov. 22, 2011, 9:29 a.m. EST by seshata7
(4)
This content is user submitted and not an official statement
Houston Police say they do not know why a 21-year-old Houston man walked into downtown Monday night and started firing a 40 caliber assault rifle.
The man walked into Tranquility Park at about 5:15 p.m. Witnesses said he was wearing a black business suit and started shooting.
"Right when I heard those initial three shots, I ran for cover. I heard another at least dozen shots," Joe Roche, a witness, said.
The man fired shots near the Occupy Houston campsite, but police do not believe the shooting had anything to do with the protests.
"He got to the bridge and he started firing in the air and then fired more shots into the water to let people know, this is a real gun, I suppose," Robert Andrews, another witness said.
Witnesses said the shooter claimed he was the "White Knight," talked about police corruption and fired away.
Police quickly arrested the man. A police spokesman said two officers on bicycles fired several shots, hitting the man, after he got within 25 feet of them.
"They see him fire a shot into the water. They give him verbal commands throughout. And he's refusing any of the commands. Instead he puts the gun up to his head at one point and starts waving the gun again at the officers," HPD Spokesman John Cannon said.
Police said about 10 shell casings were found on a bridge. Police divers searched for more shells under the water.
The shooter was rushed to Ben Taub Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. He was expected to undergo surgery.
The Harris County District Attorney's Office will determine what charges are filed.
The suspect's name has not been released.
Agreed gmatine, everything that happens now gets linked to OWS, like these places never had crime till now LMAO
People go crazy all the time. This has nothing to do with OWS. It could be 2 miles away from an OWS but some media will try to pin it on OWS.
How far do you think the establishment (the 1%) are willing to go to attempt to discredit and bring unfounded press reports to bear against OWS? If an idiot with a gun is told to go to one of these demonstrations and shoot others and then make false claims... I'd say they made a good go at discrediting OWS, especially in light of the ignorant, who believe nearly anything the media reports. These little events are attempts to distract us - like the idiots who post other things on here (Jews being discriminated against, Communism is the new way and others...) in an attempt to distract us. Focus people! Hasn't anything in the past taught you a lesson? Use your brain. The time of political apathy and indifference is past, especially if you seriously hope to change anything!
Forget about it... It's Houston.
.40 cal carbine? Very odd choice. Expensive pistol round.