EDEN, Texas, May 28 (UPI) -- A U.S. Marine was killed in a shootout with police after he allegedly killed two women and injured five people in North Carolina and Texas, officials said.
Tom Vinger, spokesman for the Texas Department of Public Safety, said Esteban J. Smith, 23, died Sunday morning after apparently randomly shooting at vehicles in Concho County, Texas.
Smith's rank and service record with the Marines weren't made public, ABC News reported Tuesday. He was an active duty Marine stationed at Camp Lejeune, N.C.
The shooting spree in Texas began around 4:30 a.m. Sunday when a woman was injured after Smith allegedly fired on her vehicle in Eden, ABC News said. Smith allegedly opened fire at a second vehicle at a convenience store, injuring two people. A third victim was injured at about 5:30 a.m. in Eden.
Just after 6 a.m., the Concho County Sheriff's Department discovered a woman shot to death in her car in Eola. Police identified her as Alicia Torres, 42.
About 15 minutes later, Concho County Sheriff Richard Doane caught up with Smith, at which point the suspect allegedly opened fire on the official, wounding him.
Highway Patrol troopers and a Texas Parks and Wildlife Department game warden engaged Smith in a firefight at the scene of Doane's shooting, killing Smith, ABC News reported.
Vinger said police found "an assault rifle, a handgun and hundreds of rounds of ammunition" at the scene.
Police said Smith has been linked to the death of another woman, whose body was found Sunday at a motel in Jacksonville, N.C.
