Mass Shooting at Texas Home Leaves at Least Five Dead

Five people have been killed, including an eight-year-old child, in a mass shooting that took place at a property in Cleveland, eastern Texas. The news was confirmed to Newsweek by San Jacinto County Sheriff's Office, who said the suspect is still at large and being hunted by officers.

Four of those killed were declared dead at the scene, whilst one was airlifted to hospital where they were later pronounced dead, according to police.

The suspect is described as a Hispanic male, about 5'8" tall, who is wearing a black shirt and blue jeans. He is believed to be intoxicated, and armed with an "AR-15 style rifle."

In a statement posted on Facebook, the San Jacinto County Sheriff's Office said they were first called to a residence in Cleveland over a harassment complaint. Whilst en route, they received reports of an active shooter at the same location.

The statement said: "Deputies arrived at the residence and located multiple victims deceased in a residence and several others in critical condition from multiple gunshot wounds.

"Allegiance Mobile Health arrived and requested an air medical helicopter to fly a pediatric patient to a local trauma center.

"Montgomery County SWAT arrived to assist and cleared several properties adjacent to the crime scene and determined that the shooter had fled the county."

Police report four people died at the scene, whilst the fifth victim died in hospital after being airlifted from the scene. Three other people were taken to hospital, and their condition is currently unknown.

Police have issued a warrant for the suspect, and are urging the public to avoid the area.

According to The Montgomery County Police Reporter, at least 50 police officers are now searching for the suspect, and SWAT has been activated. Quoting Sheriff Capers, The Reporter described the killings as "execution-style."

ABC News is reporting all the victims were aged between eight and 40, with two surviving children found lying under two of the dead.

Cleveland is a town located about 45 miles northeast of Houston with a population of 7,471 according to 2020 census data.

At least 639 mass shootings took place across the United States in 2022 according to the Gun Violence Archive, which defines such an event as four or more people shot in a single incident, not including the shooter.

One of the worst took place in Uvalde, Texas, on May 24 when 19 children and two teachers were shot dead at Robb Elementary School. The law enforcement response was widely criticized as it took officers more than an hour to enter the school and kill the gunman, 18-year-old Salvador Ramos.

In another incident, four Texas cheerleaders were shot at, with one being hospitalized, after one of them reportedly tried to get into the wrong car on April 18. The incident took place in Oak Ridge and police have arrested the suspected gunman.

Update 4/29/23 09:05 a.m. ET: This story has been updated following a statement by San Jacinto County Sheriff's Office.