Police: Ex-worker at auto shop kills 2, self

Man takes own life after alleged case of workplace violence

A former employee of a southwest Houston auto shop walks in and opens fire, killing two, before taking his own life, police say.

Two people were killed at a southwest Houston auto shop Friday when a former employee walked in and opened fire Friday afternoon, police said.

The man then walked outside Bemer Plus in the 14300 block of South Post Oak Road near West Orem and killed himself shortly before 4 p.m., according to HPD Executive Assistant Chief Troy Finner.

“(It’s) very, very sad this time of year or any part of the year (when) we lose three citizens,” Finner said.

The first officer arrived roughly one minute after police were called but had not determined details on the motive by Friday night. Police also did not confirm the identity of the shooter or when he stopped working at the auto shop.

“Personnel at scene of apparent double murder & suspect suicide. Early indicator this is senseless workplace violence,” Police Chief Art Acevedo tweeted.

None of the victims has been identified, but a man at the shop said that his cousin, who had worked at the auto shop for 20 years, was among the dead. Hours after the shooting, multiple people who said they were also related to that male employee had gathered outside the shop.

They said one of the victims had just celebrated his anniversary Thursday with his wife, who was flying from her home in Jamaica at the time and had not yet been informed of her husband’s death.

Finner said that multiple employees and customers were inside the shop at the time of the shooting but did not indicate whether the gunman had targeted specific people when he opened fire.