Wanted Marine Suspected Of Texas Shooting Rampage

A suspect in a shooting spree that killed one woman and injured five others in Texas was a Marine wanted for questioning over a murder, it has been revealed.

The Sunday morning rampage ended when Esteban J Smith, of the Camp Lejeune Marine Corps Base in North Carolina, died in a gunfight with a state trooper and a state game warden.

Spokesman Master Sgt JD Cress said in an emailed statement that authorities were investigating a possible connection between the Texas shooting and a homicide in Jacksonville, North Carolina, near the Marine base.

He also confirmed that the Texas shooting suspect was a serving Marine.

Smith, 23, is thought to have targeted vehicles at random during the 90-minute rampage.

He is suspected of shooting two people who were sitting in a car at a convenience store and then another motorist.

A 41-year-old woman, Alicia Torres, was then found dead in her car.

The suspect fired on the vehicle of Concho County Sheriff Richard Doane when the sheriff came upon him, according to police. The officer was wounded and hospitalised.

A state trooper and game warden then found and exchanged gunfire with the suspect, who was killed.

An assault rifle, handgun and hundreds of rounds of ammunition were recovered, the Texas Department of Public Safety said.