Texas’ Biggest Shootout Didn’t Happen In The Old West

The biggest shootout in Texas history didn't happen in the 1800's "wild west" days, it took place during the Summer of Love.

During the 1800's, a period in history known as the "wild west", Texas saw its share of gunfights but the biggest shootout in Texas happened more recently.

Gunfights were pretty common in 1800's era Texas and one of the lone star states most legendary ones, El Paso's "4 Dead In 5 Seconds" gunfight, killed 3 participants and 1 innocent bystander in one of the most infamous old west shootouts.

Texas' biggest one wasn't between the town sheriff and some outlaws though, it was between cops and student protestors.

It happened in Houston in 1967 when a group of student protestors gathered on the Texas Southern University campus in Houston.

What Happened At TSU?

Houston police  formed a blockade around a civil rights protest and herded the participants into a dormitory. Shortly after that, the shooting started in what the Houston Chronicle called an "Alamo-scale shootout".

Somewhere around 3,000 rounds were fired ... according to this link, it was 5,000 ... and almost 500 students were arrested in a raid on the building early the next morning. That gave this event 2 dubious honors - biggest shootout in Texas history and the biggest mass arrest in Houston history.

How Many Casualties Were There?

Despite thousands and thousands of bullets flying around and the building sustaining $30,000 dollars worth of damages, only 3 people were hit. All the victims were cops, 2 were wounded and one was killed.

Pretty much all the students there were arrested but only a small group, known as the "TSU 5", were actually indicted. They were charged with inciting a riot, assault, and murder but none were convicted, a judge ruling that the dead officer was killed by a police bullet ricochet.