Incident at 99 North Post Oak Lane

April 24, 2007 - A suspect shot a man and fatally shot a woman before shooting himself at 99 North Post Oak Lane about 1 p.m. on Monday (April 23).

The female victim, Laura Scholemann, 62, suffered a gunshot wound to the chest and was pronounced dead at the scene. The male victim, 43, whose identity is being withheld, suffered a gunshot wound to the chest and back. He was transported to Memorial Hermann Hospital in critical condition. A third victim, Mark Greiser, 47, suffered abrasions to his head and was transported to an area hospital for treatment.

The suspect, Howard “Dave” Thurm, 48, suffered an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head and was pronounced dead at the scene.

HPD Homicide Division Sergeant B. Harris and Officer T.J. McCorvey reported:

Thurm went to his neighbor’s apartment directly upstairs from his and knocked on the door. After receiving no answer, he fired several shots through the door, striking the male victim. Several witnesses then saw Thurm walking through the courtyard, while reloading his handgun. Apartment complex workers called Ms. Scholemann, the property manager, to warn her that the suspect was walking towards the office. A United States postal worker delivering mail and an assistant manager heard the elevator opening and used a fire escape to flee. Thurm entered the office and went directly to Ms. Schloemann and shot her several times. Mr. Greiser, a courier, was in the office at this time and struggled with Thurm over the weapon. Both men fell to the ground, but Mr. Greiser managed to run out of the office before hearing an additional gunshot coming from the office.

Preliminary investigation revealed Thurm was served an eviction notice on Thursday (April 19) and was given three days to vacate. Property management arrived at Thurm’s apartment about 9 a.m. on Monday (April 23) to see if he had vacated, but as they attempted to enter with a key, he slammed the door shut. Management called an attorney and the courier, who was there with the legal paperwork necessary for the next step in the eviction process.

Thurm was being evicted for harassing other residents and he had become upset with his upstairs neighbor due to noise issues. The neighbor is the husband of a government official from a foreign consulate.

GO/NJM 4-24-07
Inc# 058882107

For additional information, please contact the HPD Public Affairs Division at 713-308-3200.