Four are shot and several arrested as ‘human smuggling’ operation is busted in Houston
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BREAKING NEWS: Nine arrested after four were shot in San Antonio, then taken to Houston hotel where they escaped and called police for ‘people smuggling’
- Four people were shot among nine detainees in what is believed to be a human trafficking incident
- The people were discovered at a Motel 6 in west Houston after two people escaped to a nearby iHop and called the police.
- Of the four injured, police said they believe there is at least one suspect
Four people have been shot dead in a suspected people-smuggling incident in West Houston, police said.
Police said they have arrested nine people who were discovered at a Motel 6 on Wednesday.
Four people escaped from the motel, two ran to a nearby iHop and said they were part of a smuggling ring and called for the police.
When officers arrived, they found two cars on the run and detained the occupants who were named as suspects.
Houston Police Department officer Jonathan Halliday speaks to the press outside the Motel 6 where the victims were found
Of the nine detainees, police said they were not sure who were suspects and who were victims.
The four people had sustained gunshot wounds to their arms and legs. Police said they believe at least one of the injured is a suspect.
The injured said they were shot about two hours away in the San Antonio area before being transported to the hotel. It is still unclear how and why they were shot.
Authorities said the nationalities of the victims – all adult males – were still unknown.
Agents from the Department of Homeland Security were en route to participate in the investigation.