Local News

6 Shootings May Be Tied To 'Random Roadway' Gunman

GARLAND (CBS 11 News) ― Just after 9 p.m. Tuesday, police say a slender man parked in front of Phao's Ca Doa restaurant in Garland, got out of the car and fired two rounds at the building. No one was injured.

Police say he then walked casually back into his car, which matches the description of a car possibly related to at least five random roadway shootings since Sunday.

The car is described as a black 1992 – 1998 Honda Prelude with oversize chrome exhaust pipes and blacked out windows.

Earlier Tuesday evening, another shooting occurred in Plano. According to authorities, a woman driving a maroon mini-van was heading west on the George Bush Turnpike around 7 p.m.

Someone approached her between the Central Expressway and Custer Road, and according to Plano police, she saw a man point a gun out of the window of his car. She slammed on her brakes and was not hit by the bullet.

The woman exited the turnpike on Independence Parkway and called police. She told them the suspect's car continued heading west toward the Dallas North Tollway after the shooting.

According to reports, the woman gave police the same description as other victims have given over the past three days: the shooter was a man in black a compact vehicle.

Police say the shooting on the turnpike appears to be connected to four other recent roadway shootings. While two people have been wounded by gunfire, police believe it's only a matter of time before someone is killed.

Richardson police are also continuing their investigation of a roadway shooting in their city.

Miguel Miralrio of Garland was at a stop light at the intersection of Jupiter and Arapaho around 5 p.m. Monday afternoon. The 32-year-old was on his way to his second job as a waiter.

Police say a gunman driving in a dark-colored compact car, possibly a Honda, was turning at the intersection.

"A car turned onto Jupiter and someone started shooting. I don't know who he was shooting at, but my truck got hit," Miralrio said. "I was very scared and so was my family. I don't have any problems with anybody."

The driver fired three shots into Miralrio's Ford Explorer before speeding away. All three bullets hit the door, and the impact shattered his window. Miralrio was not injured.

"I removed the bullet from the door that could have killed me," he said. "I wanted to cry when I saw the bullet."

Detectives now believe Tuesday's shootings are tied to two shootings in Garland and one shooting in Mesquite. All three of those shootings happened Sunday. In each shooting, police believe the suspect fired a pistol.

"I feel sad for him. It seems like he doesn't have any feelings," Miralrio said. Thank God I didn't get hurt."

Garland police ask that anyone with information about the incidents or the identity of the person/persons involved call the Garland Crime Stoppers tipline at 972-272-TIPS.

(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

---