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The Houston Gunman in a Nazi Uniform: 7 Things You Need to Know

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By Lilly Maier September 26, 2016

The troubled lawyer who opened fire in a mall in Houston on Monday, injuring at least nine people before being fatally shot by police, was wearing a Nazi uniform.

Six victims were taken to hospitals and three were treated at the scene after being shot at while inside their vehicles in the wealthy neighborhood of West University Place, acting Houston Police Chief Martha Montalvo told reporters.

Here are seven facts that will bring you up-to date on the suspected shooter.

The shooter’s name was Nathan DeSai, a 46-year-old Houston lawyer, according to the local news channel KRPC. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said that the gunman “appeared to be a disgruntled lawyer who took out his anger and frustration on individuals.”
He was wearing an antique German military uniform that had swastikas on it, local news channels reported.
Police also searched his condo and his car, a black Porsche, where they found guns as well as several examples of Nazi paraphernalia.

Nazi materials found inside a car investigated at scene of SW Houston shooting rampage: https://t.co/MRozy6CcNE pic.twitter.com/9ikaoT3YwP

— Rick Bagley (@ABC13Bagley) September 26, 2016

DeSai practiced business, family and criminal law. His former law partner Kenneth McDaniel told local channel KHOU that they had mutually ended their partnership in February due to economic reasons. “It’s a horrible situation,” McDaniel told KHOU. “I don’t know what to say.”

Kenneth McDaniel, former Desai law partner: had positive working relationship for yrs, partnership dissolved in Feb due to economy #khou11 pic.twitter.com/kjx4P2iuxr

— Drew Karedes (@DrewKaredesKHOU) September 26, 2016

Jennifer Moredo, one of DeSai’s neighbors and the wife of one of the shooting victimstold local TV that DeSai had confronted roofers at the property with an assault-style weapon at the property several weeks ago. According to the property manager of the condo complex, police did not make an arrest at the time, because the gun was not pointed at the roofer.
DeSai’s father, Prakash, told KPRC that his son owned his own law practice, but that it was not doing well. “He was worried, […] because his law practice was not running good, so he (was) worried about this all the time,” Parkash DeSai said.
Houston mayor Sylvester Turner said that “there does not appear to be any connection to a terrorist act.”

Lilly Maier is a news intern at the Forward. Reach her at [email protected] or on Twitter at @lillymmaier

Lilly Maier is a news intern at the Forward. She is a graduate journalism student at New York University, where she studies as a Fulbright scholar. She also holds a B.A. in Jewish history from the University of Munich. Contact Lilly at [email protected], read her portfolio, or follow her on Twitter.

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