Houston: A gunman opened fire at a family
birthday party at a Texas roller skating rink killing at least
five people and wounding four others before fatally turning
the gun on himself.
The shooting at Forum Roller World occurred last
evening when a family member drew a pistol during what
apparently started as a fight between a husband and wife,
police Chief Steve Dye was quoted as saying by Dallas News.
Police were called to the rink in Grand Prairie, about
32 kilometres west of Dallas, police department spokesman John
Brimmer said.
"It was an argument. The shooter had gotten into here
at a private birthday party," he said adding that it
escalated to the point where he pulled a gun and started
shooting."
The gunman died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The ages and identities of the victims were not
released till last evening. The victims were Vietnamese,
Brimmer said. None were children.
As soon as the shooting call came in, within 90
seconds the first officer arrived. "It just started raining
police," Brimmer said.
Once four or five officers arrived, they went in, he
said. By then, the shooting had stopped.
The injured survivors were taken to hospitals but
their condition wasn't immediately disclosed.
Brimmer said all witnesses were taken to police
headquarters to be questioned.
"We're going to assist the family and anybody else who
attended to help them overcome this terrible situation," he
said.
PTI
First Published: Sunday, July 24, 2011, 23:47