Friends of Houston gunman remember a polite, reserved ‘normal guy’

The man who authorities say randomly shot at drivers in Houston, injuring nine before he was fatally shot by officers, seem- ingly did his best to not stand out, according to friends and neighbors.

Nathan DeSai, a lawyer whom police identified Tuesday as the gunman, was described as polite, quiet and someone who kept mostly to himself, though he also played in a rock cover band years ago. A friend who had worked with him as a pros- ecutor in Dallas said that a few years after 9/11, DeSai changed his first name from Niren so it would sound more American and he could blend in. According to naturaliza- tion records, DeSai was born in India and became a U.S. citizen in 1989.

In the weeks before Monday’s shooting at the entrance to the southwest- ern Houston condo com- plex, the normally incon- spicuous 46-year-old began to draw attention to himself. He was accused of pointing an assault-style rifle at roof- ers working in the complex and sending an email to the complex’s managers in which he said he would “intimidate his way” to ensuring water pressure problems at his unit were fixed. His father said that DeSai was worried that his new law practice wasn’t going well; his earlier law firm had closed in February because of eco- nomic conditions.

But those who knew or interacted with DeSai, as well as authorities, still were trying to determine Tuesday what prompted DeSai to lash out so violently.

Authorities have said DeSai was wearing military-style apparel with old Nazi emblems and had two weapons and more than 2,500 rounds of live ammuni- tion. Houston police spokes- woman Jodi Silva said police are still reviewing the significance of the Nazi emblems.

“He seemed like a pretty normal guy to me. He wasn’t like an angry person or vicious,” said defense attorney Michael Lowe, who had worked with DeSai in the Dal- las County district attorney’s office about 14 years ago.

Lowe said that he, DeSai and another prosecutor had a cover band called “Brain Clouds” that would play at bars, clubs and parties.

“He was a very good guitar player. He could also sing really well,” Lowe said.

Around 2004, DeSai started a law practice in Houston with Kenneth McDaniel. DeSai handled a variety of criminal cases, including theft, assault and drug possession.