Dionisio Garza III, 25

Houston, Texas
May 29, 2016

Agencies: Houston Police Department Texas

Cause of death: Shooting


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Last updated: almost 6 years ago

Overview

We still don't know what caused a man to go on a deadly shooting rampage in West Houston. However, friends who knew him say he is an Army veteran who suffered from PTSD.

"If precautions were taken before this, even on my part, to reach out for him then it could have been prevented," said a fellow solider, who asked not to be identified.

The soldier told KHOU 11 News he served alongside Dionisio Garza III, 25, in Afghanistan.

"I would have never guessed Garza. Ever. I've seen him talk people down from PTSD moments I'm sure more than I  could even count," he said.

However, he told us PTSD was something Garza struggled with too.

"I never thought he had a serious problem with it, he chose to go on a second and a third deployment and not only go, but be a leader there," he said.

Police have still not said why they believe Garza snapped or even why a man from California chose a neighborhood off Memorial Drive in West Houston.

"This is not a place where anyone expects anything like this to happen, kids are about to get out of school, it's about to be summer," said Daniel Irving, one of the pastors at Memorial Drive United Methodist Church.

Irving happened to be preaching nearby when the shooting started.

"One of my assistants said there's a shooting going on outside and we're on lock down," he said.

Now, the church is planning a service Thursday night to help the community heal.

"It's going to be an opportunity for us to bless this place and to help folks know they don't need to be afraid," said Irving.