Gunman kills 5, self in Texas shooting

WASHINGTON – A gunman killed five people during a birthday party at a roller skating rink in Texas Saturday before turning the gun on himself, police said.

The shooting in the town of Grand Prairie occurred after a fight broke out at a birthday party, said a police official who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The gunman killed five people and wounded four before shooting himself in the head, police said. He was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.

No other details were given, but the official said the incident was under investigation.

“We’re going to assist the family and anybody else who attended to help them overcome this terrible situation,” police spokesman John Brimmer told local media.

The wounded were treated at nearby hospitals, officials said without elaborating.

Police said the shooter was one of the organizers of the party, which quickly got out of control
when an argument erupted between two family members.

“There’s just no cause for this,” Aaron Feldt, a resident of Grand Prairie, told The Dallas Morning News newspaper, adding that children and adult were among the guests at the party.

“You could tell there was a sense of urgency and panic in their eyes,” he added. “It’s real unfortunate.”

Officials said later that the victims were all adults.

Grand Prairie is part of a large north Texas urban area that includes Dallas and Fort Worth.