2 killed, 1 injured in shooting at Downtown Aquarium, HPD says

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — A man shot and killed another man and injured a woman before turning the gun on himself during a night out at the Downtown Aquarium, according to police.

It happened on the second floor of the aquarium’s restaurant in the bar area around 8:10 p.m. on Thursday.

Investigators said when officers arrived, they found two men dead and a woman injured. The woman is being treated at a hospital and is reportedly stable.

According to a preliminary report issued by HPD Asst. Chief Matt Slinkard, the woman and one of the men killed were sitting at the bar having dinner.

Slinkard said as the two were closing their tab, the second man who was found dead reportedly went up to the couple and started shooting.

“This suspect got up, and in a very quick manner, went around the bar to the area where the male and female were together,” explained Slinkard, who said officers are currently reviewing surveillance camera footage. “At the time, the suspect immediately starting firing rounds. The deceased male immediately went down. The female who was injured went down as well, and then, from the footage that we’ve seen, this person we know to be our suspect that’s deceased on the scene immediately committed suicide with one self-inflicted gunshot wound.”

Slinkard said based on the footage reviewed so far, it doesn’t appear that the couple and the shooter were together and the relationship between the three individuals is unknown.
“It does not appear that these parties were together,” he said. “We have very little to go on except that footage.”

It’s unclear how many patrons were inside the restaurant at the time of the shooting, though Slinkard said it wasn’t very crowded.

“This is the type of situation that should make us all pause for all of the families and all of the lives that will be affected,” said Slinkard.

Meanwhile, a woman who was inside the restaurant at the time of the shooting spoke with ABC13 Thursday night and said she heard about four or five gunshots.

“Everyone started to run in one direction of the restaurant,” said Elaine Khalil. “There was panic and pandemonium.”
She said those inside immediately started running.

“It was a weeknight near closing so it was half full,” said Khalil. “We just followed the crowd into this small room that kind of curved around. Everyone was trying to get around. Another person was yelling to shut the door. Then the wait staff, they were very composed, they led us to a back staircase where everyone ran out.”

The scene was deemed secure and safe Thursday night by police.