SPRING BRANCH, Texas – Updated Sunday at 4:55 p.m.:
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect(s) who assaulted and robbed a USPS letter carrier Saturday in Spring Branch.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call 1-877-876-2455 (select Option 2).
Original story:
An active search is underway for the gunman who shot a mail carrier while she was on her route Saturday morning in Spring Branch, authorities said.
U.S. Postal Service Inspector Michael Martinez-Partida said the woman, who is a rural carrier and uses a private vehicle, was shot near Spring Branch and River Way roads about 9:30 a.m. Her vehicle was also stolen but later recovered by authorities.
Investigators said some mail was possibly taken.
Resident Amanda Lawless said she had just sat down to eat breakfast with her children when she heard the commotion outside.
"There was mail scattered all in front of the mailboxes, all in the ditches. There was boxes all over the street," Lawless said. "You couldn't even drive down the street, and all the mailboxes were open from where she was putting mail in."
The Comal County Sheriff's Office, Texas Rangers and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service responded to the shooting.
"I know her by name. I actually taught her son second grade, and so my stomach dropped. And she was crying and screaming and saying, 'I'm hurt. It's hurting.' And it was very scary," Lawless said.
The victim was able to answer questions.
"She gave us a detailed account of what happened, what we're looking for, our suspect and some additional information we're following up on in regards to a vehicle that may be related," Martinez-Partida said.
The mail carrier, who was shot in the leg, was taken to University Hospital.
Investigators haven't been able to determine if mail was the target of the crimes. However, they said they realize it is tax season and sensitive information is moving through mailboxes.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is investigating. Anyone with information about the crime is asked to call 1-877-876-2455.