Mystery surrounds deadly shooting

Nick May and Jessica Garcia didn't know what to think when they saw a bloody handprint and a trail of blood on the sidewalk of their Humble apartment complex.

"It's like somebody was running around trying to get help," May said.

Police say that's exactly what one of the neighbors was trying to do after someone kicked in his door and shot him.

Neighbor Carlos Singleton recalled, "I was asleep. He stays like, right upstairs. I heard, 'Boom!' He normally exercises, but not that late."

It was around 1:30am when police say three male suspects picked their victim at random.

"He jumped from his balcony on the second floor to the ground to get away," explained Detective Eric Squire with the Humble Police Department.

Shalondra Moore says she heard her neighbor scream.

"I heard someone say, 'Help me! Help me! Help me!' Then I heard three shots fired," she recalled. "Like, 'Pow! Pow! Pow!' back to back."

Those shots were aimed at a witness who was watching from an upstairs window. Even though there was a chance he could positively identify the suspects, they went to the apartment complex across the street. That is where police say once again, they picked their victim at random, kicking in a door and shooting. This time they shot two people, killing one man.

"I think I've heard maybe three things that sounded like gunfire in five years," recalled neighbor Jason Rusk. "Most of those were vehicles backfiring and fireworks during the Fourth of July or New Year's."

That's why residents say they're having such a hard time understanding why the suspects picked their normally quiet complex.

The victim who jumped from his balcony to get away from the suspects was shot in the leg. He's listed in good condition. As far as the second surviving shooting victim, he is listed as stable.

Authorities say they believe the three suspects left in a green Ford Ranger that was stolen. They also believe the suspects are connected to a number of similar crimes that have taken place in Houston and surrounding areas.

For more news from Humble, check out headlines from the Humble Observer.