Indian attorney shoots nine in Houston; dies in police shoot out

Nine people were injured when an Indian American lawyer, armed with several weapons opened fire at a southwest Houston strip center in Texas early this morning  before he was shot and killed by police

Attorney Nathan Desai was killed and police found weapons in his Porsche car.

Police said six people were taken to hospitals  while three were treated at the scene for injuries from broken glass, and released.

One victim is in critical condition with a gunshot wound, according to Memorial Hermann Hospital. Two people were taken to Memorial Hermann Red Duke Trauma Institute and another three were taken to Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital. A sixth patient was transported to Ben Taub, according to media reports

Police exchanged gunfire with the suspected shooter, who died at the scene. It appears that he was killed by a police weapon, said HPD Acting Police Chief Martha Montalvo.

At a 9:15 a.m. press conference, Montalvo said the alleged shooter was a local lawyer and there were "questions" surrounding his law firm.

The incident was initially reported at about 6:30 a.m. near the Randall's grocery store at Weslayan and Bissonnet. The shooter allegedly fired several times into the strip center at that location.

Assistant Houston Fire Department Chief Richard Mann said gunfire lasted about 20 minutes at Law Street near Weslayan Plaza.

The shootings took place within a mile or two of several schools.