3 Men Shot In San Antonio Found Escaping Human Smugglers In Houston

At least three people were shot and nine were arrested Wednesday afternoon in Houston in what police described as a human smuggling operation.

Houston Police Department responded to a 911 call about a shooting at an IHOP restaurant. One of the victims, who had been shot in the arm, told police "that they had escaped from a human smuggling situation at a nearby hotel," Houston Police Commander Jonathan Halliday told reporters.

Two men who had been shot directed police to the nearby Motel 6. Two vehicles were attempting to leave the motel but were caught by police. Police arrested nine people.

Halliday said that while speaking to the victims, they informed officers they had been shot earlier that morning more than a hundred miles away, "approximately two hours west of here, in the greater San Antonio area, but the exact location is not known."

Halliday also said that authorities believe they were being smuggled and brought to Houston after the shooting. "I don't know where they were coming from or where they were going."

The two men who escaped the hotel room and ran to the nearby IHOP, where they called 911 for help, were both taken to a local hospital, though only one was wounded. The two other men who escaped went to nearby hospitals for treatment before Houston police was notified.

Additional officers who responded to the scene saw two vehicles flee, but they were able to stop and detain nine people who may be victims or suspects. Police say there may be a fourth victim but have been unable to locate him.

All three gunshot victims are males, approximately 30 to 40 years old, were hospitalized, and are now in stable condition, said Halliday.

The Houston Police Department announced on Wednesday on Twitter that there was "no ongoing threat" to the public.

The Department of Homeland Security are reportedly investigating the incident.