Central Texas mass shooting: 1 dead, 4 critical, suspect in custody

BRYAN, Texas -- There were six people shot and one killed Thursday afternoon at a cabinet making business in Bryan, just outside of College Station, officials said. A Texas Department of Public Safety officer was also shot while apprehending the suspect.

Four people were critically injured in the shooting at Kent Moore Cabinets and taken to St. Joseph Health Regional Hospital, the Bryan Police Department said. Another person shot was taken to the hospital in non-critical condition.

One victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

Bryan police said the lone suspect was in custody. That person is an employee of the company, Police Chief Eric Buske said.

The suspect had fled the location when Bryan police arrived shortly after 2:30 p.m. local time. He was taken into custody in Grimes County, Sheriff Donald Sowell told ABC News.

A DPS officer was shot when taking the person into custody. He is in serious, but stable condition, officials said.

DPS said its officers tried to take the suspect into custody near Iola, Texas, at about 3:30 p.m., but the suspect shot the trooper and fled. He was then found and taken into custody 50 minutes later in the town of Bedias.

A seventh individual was taken to the hospital after suffering an asthma attack.

Employees said the suspect did not say anything before opening fire in the large warehouse.

"It was like I was living a horror movie, you know," Amelia Rodriguez, an employee at Kent Moore Cabinets, told ABC News. "You see everything all the time in the movies and they will happen to us today, and it's indescribable."

"I don't know how to feel," she continued. "Like two hours ago, I thought I was gonna pass out, you know, my legs are feeling weak and everything. ... Life is unpredictable, and it can go in a second."

The FBI said in a statement it was "aware of the incident that occurred today in Bryan," but the Bryan Police Department is leading the investigation. The Houston Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms (ATF) and Explosives was also responding.

"I have been working closely with the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Texas Rangers as they assist local law enforcement on a swift response to this criminal act," Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said in a statement. "Their efforts led to the arrest of the shooting suspect. The state will assist in any way needed to help prosecute the suspect."

"[Abbott's wife] Cecilia and I are praying for the victims and their families and for the law enforcement officer injured while apprehending the suspect," he added.

Just hours earlier, Abbott had criticized President Joe Biden's new executive actions aimed at gun reform.

"Biden is threatening our 2nd Amendment rights. He just announced a new liberal power grab to take away our guns," he tweeted. "We will NOT allow this in TX."

Bryan, a town of 84,000 people, is located in the shadow of Texas A&M University in nearby College Station, and about 100 miles northwest of Houston.