KEY POINTS

  • Seven people were injured after a gun accidentally discharged inside a dance hall in Houston
  • One person was struck in the leg, while six others were injured by shrapnel and debris after the bullet ricocheted inside the venue
  • Suspect 23-year-old Jose Manuel Guerrero-Reyes will face one count of aggravated assault

Seven people were reported to have been injured after a gun accidentally discharged inside a packed flea market in Houston, Texas over the weekend.

The incident happened late Sunday at the Mercado Sabadomingo flea market, which was at the time, used as a dance hall. The venue was occupied by families, including children prior to the accident.

An unidentified individual was struck in the leg, with the bullet passing through the appendage. It was then believed to have ricocheted in the venue and left six other people with injuries due to shrapnel and debris.

police line
Representation image of a crime scene. Gerd Altmann/ Pixabay

Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez told ABC 13 that guns are prohibited inside the venue considering that it caters mainly to family-type events.

“It was very well protected. So why somebody would have a gun in there – keep in mind there were also children inside this location, it is a family-type dance – it's just very, very lucky that no one was seriously injured or wounded,” said ABC News, citing Gonzalez's statement.

All seven victims were taken to the emergency room as a precaution, added the outlet.

Following an initial investigation, the suspect, which was later identified as 23-year-old Jose Manuel Guerrero-Reyes, told authorities that the gun accidentally slipped from his pocket which caused it to accidentally discharge.

Guerrero-Reyes will face one count of aggravated assault, said Gonzalez in his Twitter post.

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