HOUSTON \u2013 A man was shot during a gunfire exchange in the parking lot of a restaurant in the Fifth Ward Wednesday afternoon after a meetup over a stolen tailgate turned violent, according to Houston police.<\/p>\n
The shooting happened around 2:45 p.m. at Frenchy\u2019s Chicken, located in the 4400 block of the East Freeway, HPD officials said.<\/p>\n
Investigators say the incident stemmed from a vehicle tailgate that had been reported stolen the night before. <\/p>\n
According to police, the owner later spotted what he believed to be his stolen tailgate listed for sale online. He arranged to meet the sellers at the restaurant parking lot.<\/p>\n
\u201cRight now, we can\u2019t confirm the tailgate was the one that was stolen,\u201d HPD Lt. Larry Crowson said at the scene. \u201cIt was obviously from the same model of truck and same color, but it could be a separate vehicle.\u201d<\/p>\n
Officials said the man went to the meetup armed and brought along a couple of friends who were also armed.<\/p>\n
When they arrived, they encountered three men who were there to sell the tailgate. Police say all parties were armed, and a shootout broke out shortly after the meeting began.<\/p>\n
One of the alleged sellers was shot in the arm and the upper neck area during the exchange and was transported to the hospital. He is expected to survive.<\/p>\n
Northeast officers are at a shooting scene 4400 East Freeway. One adult male transported in critical condition. Possible shooter detained. 202 pic.twitter.com\/9I5u2gh0bq<\/a><\/p>\n