Man killed in Katy road rage incident

A road-rage incident escalated into a homicide early Saturday in Katy. Now, Harris County Sheriff deputies are searching for a man who they think shot and killed the other driver.

The suspect is Dietrich Thomas, 22, who is considered armed and dangerous, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez tweeted Saturday afternoon.

Thomas is a black male who is currently out of jail on a bond for an unrelated shooting filed by Houston police on Feb. 10, Gonzalez said.

“Thomas was last seen in a 2019 black Dodge Charger, TX plate KYB8378. …  If you know the whereabouts of Thomas or the Charger, immediately call 911 & notify your local police agency,” Gonzalez tweeted.

Shortly after midnight Saturday deputies responded to reports of a shooting on Morton Ranch Road, authorities said. They found 29-year old Ed James Starr had been shot in the chest.

Starr was reportedly driving a gray Toyota Camry when he and Thomas allegedly got into a road rage incident that started at Mason Road and Interstate 10, authorities said.

The vehicles continued northbound on Mason Road until they reached Morton Ranch Road, where the drivers both got out of their vehicles and got into a fight.

Thomas allegedly pulled out a pistol and shot Starr in the chest, then got in his vehicle and drove off, according to deputies.  Passersby helped the victim until emergency medical responders arrived.

Paramedics took Starr to the Memorial Hermann Hospital in Katy, where he was pronounced dead, according to a release from the sheriff’s office.

There were four people in the Toyota Camry and two people in the black Dodge Charger. authorities said