Police search for four suspects after a person was found shot to death in the parking lot of an inn.
Houston police were called to America's Best Value Inn on Airline near the North Freeway around 5 a.m. Sunday, where they found a man dead at the scene.
Investigators said four men who were seen walking onto the motel grounds may have followed the victim to the motel and intended to rob him.
Police said as three of the men approached the victim, his female passenger saw a gun and was able to run away. Gunfire erupted shortly after.
"One of the suspects engaged and started shooting at the complainants. The complainant had his own gun and appeared to return fire," said Mark Coleman, a Houston police homicide investigator.
Police said the victim was struck several times. A motel guest sleeping nearby said he heard what sounded like more than dozen shots.
"I got my kids and threw them on the floor and then I came outside," said Jesus Mancilla.
A manager at the hotel said the victim had just checked into the motel and was shot before he ever made it to his room.
Investigators said after the shooting the suspects took the victim's gun and also appeared to take something else from his body. Officials are reviewing surveillance video from the hotel in an effort to identify the four suspects.
The victim's identity hasn't been released.