Downtown Houston Shooting: Attorney Describes Chaotic Scene Near Courthouse

Eyewitness Account of Downtown Shooting

• 💡 Attorney Rick Dotto, whose office is near the courthouse, received a panicked call from his wife, an assistant district attorney, warning of an active shooter.
• 📌 Dotto's secretary and law partner reported hearing gunshots, prompting him to investigate the scene.
• 🔍 Upon arriving, Dotto observed a chaotic scene with numerous officers, some armed with rifles, and an individual down in the plaza.

The Injured Individual and Crime Scene

• 🚑 The individual seen down was not an officer but appeared to be in severe pain and was transported by gurney, screaming.
• 🎯 Officers were observed searching a wide area, including the back corner, for shell casings, indicating a significant crime scene.
• 🗣️ A lawyer in Dotto's office reported hearing an estimated 15 to 20 shots fired, a substantial number.

Personal Impact and Legal Perspective

• ⚖️ Dotto, a defense attorney, noted that legal professionals typically deal with cases after the fact, making this experience of witnessing an incident unfold personally frightening.
• ⚠️ The possibility of being caught in a shootout or hit by a stray bullet while walking to work is a stark reality that contrasts with the usual legal process.