Man shoots, kills family member after child custody argument escalates to crash, shooting in northwest Harris County, HCSO says

HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) -- Authorities said a wild string of events led to multiple car accidents and at least one person dead in northwest Harris County early Saturday morning.

According to the Harris County Sheriff's Office, the incident began with a fight between family members, reportedly about child custody, after 2 a.m. Deputies said a man involved in the argument stole someone's red pickup truck from a gas station.

The family members then tried to flee, authorities said, before the man in the stolen truck began to chase them.

HCSO said the chase ended in the 12000 block of Veterans Memorial Drive, where a silver sedan crashed into a ditch. Officials said three people, including an infant, were ejected from the car and taken to a local hospital, where they are expected to be OK.

Investigators said the stolen truck crashed nearby, knocking down a gazebo. Officials said one person inside the truck was injured but was able to walk away afterward.

Deputies said at that point, family members were called and arrived at the scene of the crash.

Authorities said an adult male family member approached the other man who stole the vehicle. The suspect then pulled out a gun and shot and killed the family member, deputies said, before he fled the scene.

Investigators said they have identified the suspect but are still searching for him. The investigation remains ongoing, HCSO said.

Deputies said this incident is only one of multiple murder investigations in northwest Harris County since 8 p.m. on Friday.