HOUSTON — A person of interest in connection with the deadly shooting of two women killed himself, according to the Houston Police Department.
Police have not identified the person of interest or said what his connection to the shooting was, but they told KHOU 11 they were going to take a statement from him before learning he shot himself to death.
"We were attempting to make contact with him to, to speak with him and get his statement," detectives said. "He was not wanted at any point in time and during that process, we learned of this incident out here."
The two women were killed during an ambush outside of a home in the Independence Heights area early Wednesday, police said. Five children were inside the home when it happened. None of them were injured and they didn't see what happened.
Investigators said they suspect the shooting was based on a case of domestic violence and they were looking for an ex-boyfriend of one of the women who was killed.
One of the victims was identified as Mary Arredondo, a 39-year-old mother of four, according to her mother. None of her children were present when the shooting happened. Arredondo’s mother said she was heartbroken by the loss of her only daughter.
“It shouldn’t have happened at all," Selinda Trevino said. "It shouldn’t have happened. They were just enjoying their night."
The shooting happened around 1:30 a.m. outside a home on East 37th Street near Yale Street.
Investigators said there was an argument earlier in the evening, and then later in the evening, the women, who were friends, were outside sitting on the porch when someone walked up to the house and shot at them. Arredondo and a 22-year-old woman were killed immediately.
There was a third woman who was there, police said. She took off running during the shooting and got away. She was later taken to the hospital but has since been released.
She told KHOU 11 News that it happened so fast and that she never even saw the suspect’s face.
Police said surveillance video showed a man wearing a blue hoodie, ballcap, camo pants, boots, and gloves hide behind a fence and then ambush the women from behind. He ran away after the shooting.
“It appeared to be an ambush-style attack,” HPD Det. J. Diaz said. “The suspect hid behind a fence, then proceeded to ambush the victims from behind.”
Anyone with information can call the Houston Police Homicide Division at 713 308-3600.