HARRIS COUNTY, Texas — Three people were killed and two others were injured last weekend in a shooting at a short-term rental property in west Harris County, according to Sheriff Ed Gonzalez.
It happened early Sunday morning at a house on Russet Leaf Trace, which is near N Fry Road and Clay Road.
Investigators said they thought there were more than a dozen people inside the home. At some point, someone opened fire. Gonzalez said it's not clear if the shooter or shooters crashed the small gathering or if they were invited.
"It was a very active scene," Gonzalez said. "It was very chaotic upon the deputy’s arrival. As you mentioned, he arrived within a few minutes. He immediately noticed at least one or two persons were dead on scene. Others were possibly injured."
Officials said evidence at the scene leads them to believe at least one person was shooting from outside the house.
Two people were pronounced dead at the scene and a third died at an area hospital. At least two people were taken to area hospitals for treatment. There may be more people who were injured, according to the sheriff.
On Monday, Gonzalez identified the deceased as Michael Odobo, 24, Nicholas King, 24, and Ellesha Rice, 24. In a tweet, Gonzalez said Rice graduated with honors from a college in the San Antonio area and was set to start law school.
"There may be others that drove off who are now showing up at clinics. So, if anybody shows up at a clinic or hospital, we’d like to know about it," Gonzalez said. "There's evidence inside the house and evidence along the street. It appears multiple many shots were fired."
Neighbors woke up to gunfire around 2 a.m. Sunday.
"Yes, it was chaos. It was chaos," one neighbor, who didn't want to be identified, said. "You know, three people lost their lives, and they are more than likely young."
She said she and her husband woke up to the shots and admitted that it's a bit unsettling knowing something like that happened so close to home.
"Just seeing crime tape going up you knew something bad happened," she said.
For now, the neighbor can only share her sympathies while investigators try to piece it all together.
"My heart goes out to the families who lost their loved ones," she said.
If you have any information about the shooting, you're asked to contact the sheriff's office at 713-221-6000 or 713-274-9100. You can also report tips anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 713-222-8477.
Watch the update the sheriff gave Sunday morning: