A manhunt is underway in suburban Houston after a gunman opened fire at a local bar early Sunday, killing one person and injuring five others, police said.

The incident occurred at the Alas Locas sports bar in Cleveland, about 72 kilometres (45 miles) northeast of Houston, according to the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office. Witnesses told authorities that the suspect had been quietly drinking alone before suddenly opening fire on patrons sitting on the bar’s outdoor patio.

Captain David Myers of the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office said the gunman fired at least 20 shots before fleeing the scene. Authorities described the suspect’s weapon as a .40 or .45-calibre handgun. He reportedly left in a white full-size van with no side windows, heading in an unknown direction.

One victim, who had been at the bar with his wife, was critically injured and flown by medical helicopter to Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead. Five other people — four men and a woman — were wounded, with two reported in critical condition.

Police are reviewing security footage to help identify and apprehend the suspect. Myers said the shooter arrived at the bar between midnight and 2 a.m., ordering a drink but largely avoiding interaction before returning to the patio to open fire. A motive has not yet been determined.

This shooting marks the second mass shooting at a Houston-area bar this year. On 23 March, six people were shot, including four critically, at the Latinas Sports Bar in southwest Houston. Authorities later arrested a 25-year-old Venezuelan national, Jose Miguel Briceno, in connection with that incident. A second suspect is still believed to have fled to Mexico.

Briceno, who faced federal charges including aggravated assault and firearms violations, was reportedly involved in a broader crackdown on members of the Anti-Tren transnational criminal organisation, which authorities said has been involved in turf wars and violent crime in the Houston area.

The Liberty County Sheriff’s Office and the Texas Department of Public Safety are continuing their investigation. Police urge anyone with information about the suspect or the shooting to come forward.

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