Officers from the Pearland Police Department in Texas issued an arrest warrant Sunday afternoon for a 19-year-old suspect who killed a child and injured four others in a mass shooting.
David Negrete, 19, is wanted on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and is considered armed and dangerous, according to police.
He was identified through surveillance footage and interviews with witnesses and victims.
Three of the five victims have been described as innocent bystanders, while two of them, ages 16 and 18, are still being interviewed to determine their involvement in the shooting.
A 14-year-old girl, a 37-year-old man and a ten-year-old child were injured by the gunfire and taken to local hospitals, but the child did not survive.
Pearland police have issued an arrest warrant for 19-year-old David Negrete (pictured) for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in connection with the mass shooting at Cole’s Flea Market in Texas on Sunday.
Police were sent to the flea market on Sunday evening, where five people were injured by the gunfire. A ten-year-old boy died in hospital from his injuries
After police released the suspect’s name, Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced that Texas Crimestoppers has offered a $15,000 reward for any information leading to Negrete’s arrest.
The 19-year-old has also been added to the Texas 10 Most Wanted Fugitives list.
On Sunday around 5:34 p.m., police were called to Cole’s Flea Market for a report of shots fired.
The five victims injured in the mass attack were subsequently located and taken to local hospitals, where the ten-year-old boy was pronounced dead.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that two Hispanic male subjects were involved in the altercation,” the Pearland Police Department news release said.
They also revealed that at least two guns were found at the scene, but the number of bullets fired is still unknown.
“We believe there are at least one, if not two, other people who actually had handguns and who fired firearms at the scene.
“There are possibly three suspects,” Rogers said.
Chad Rogers (pictured), a police spokesman, said the other four victims are still alive, but the two teens have yet to be interviewed to see if they are linked
Negrete (pictured) was identified as a suspect after authorities searched surveillance footage and interviewed witnesses and victims
Rogers said the shooting did not target the flea market and was caused by an argument between two men
Two witnesses told police they saw two men in an altercation before the chaotic scene began.
The 14-year-old girl and the 37-year-old man were both taken to hospital in stable condition and the man has since been released.
The two teenage victims underwent surgery and detectives are still trying to determine if they were involved in the incident.
Rogers said the shooting did not target the flea market and was caused by an argument between two men.
“This is not something that happens in Pearland. It is extremely tragic when anyone is a victim of gun violence, especially in our community. This doesn’t happen here in Pearland,” he said.
Houston police cars block access to Main Street near Sam Houston Parkway. Negrete has not yet been found and police have warned he is considered armed and dangerous
Police have revealed that two handguns were found at the scene, but the number of bullets fired is still unknown
Authorities urged anyone with information on Negrete’s whereabouts or any information about the shooting to contact the Pearland Police Department’s Brazoria County Crime Stoppers tip line.
“If you saw anything, heard anything and would like to let us know, please call that number and assist our investigators,” Rogers pleaded.
Governor Abbot said that “Texas mourns the loss of a precious child after yesterday’s devastating tragedy in Pearland, and our thoughts are with the four other victims in the hospital as they recover from their injuries.”
The Pearland Police Department has stated that this is an ongoing investigation by their Criminal Investigations Division.