Sheriff Skipper Osborne said he has suspects in the widespread gunshot damage to several Blessing houses, vehicles and businesses – and injury to a woman who was hit in the hand – early Wednesday morning, Dec. 29.
Osborne noted the progress in the case at commissioners court’s regular meeting Monday, Jan. 3, when he also announced a $5,000 award for the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for “whoever shot up Blessing” last week.
Precinct 4 Commissioner Bubba Frick welcomed the additional $5,000 reward – from Benjamin Gibson – on top of other reward money offered last week.
“I think we should get some information from that,” Frick said.
“We have been working on a case where several vehicles had damaged windows as well as houses and businesses in the city of Blessing,” said CID Lt. James Orr, in the deputy’s offense report released Thursday, Dec. 30.
The first report of the shootings was called in around 4:30 - 4:45 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 29, Orr reported.
Several houses had damaged glass doors and windows and some of the houses themselves had some damage to the outside, he added.
“The lady that was hit in the hand while in her kitchen making coffee is the only injury that we are aware of at this time,” Orr said in his report.
That injury required medical attention, he added.
“The Catholic Church had glass doors damaged as well as I believe the Quilting store on FM 616 had window damage,” Orr said.
“The weapon used is believed to be a pellet gun, due to pellet projectiles being recovered at several of the locations by the ID Division of the Sheriff’s Office,” Orr noted.
Investigators are collecting evidence and trying to obtain leads to find the individual or individuals responsible for these incidents, Orr pointed out.
One witness described seeing a white or silver SUV type vehicle leaving the scene of one of the shootings, the deputy said.
“Sheriff Investigators are seeking any video from residences that might have captured a vehicle or person at one of the shooting locations,” Orr commented during the investigation last week. “Investigators are currently obtaining security video from local businesses for review.”
Damage estimates at the time of this posting are in excess of $7,500.
Contact Sgt. John Kelly at 979-245-5526 with any information.
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