Teenager witnesses fatal shooting of her father

We regret the off-duty loss of Houston Fire Inspector David Stoneham. He was involved in an off-duty incident about 10 a.m. this morning, July 15, 2013, and transported to the hospital where he was pronounced deceased. Stoneham began his career with the Houston Fire Department in 1980 and was promoted to inspector in 1999. less We regret the off-duty loss of Houston Fire Inspector David Stoneham. He was involved in an off-duty incident about 10 a.m. this morning, July 15, 2013, and transported to the hospital where he was pronounced ... more Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Teenager witnesses fatal shooting of her father 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

A Houston man fatally shot his stepdaughter's father as the teenager was watching, authorities said.

David Stoneham, a Houston Fire Department inspector, was shot about 10 a.m. Monday in the driveway of his home in the 500 block of W. Troy near Stuebner Airline.

Police were searching for Alain Bell, 43, who is wanted for murder.

"We consider him armed and dangerous," said Sgt. Brian Harris, a Houston Police Department homicide detective.

Stoneham, 55, was shot soon after he pulled into the driveway of his north Houston home. His daughter, 17, was with him.

She got out of the car and was walking toward the garage when she saw Bell, her stepfather, point and fire the shotgun at Stoneham, detectives said. She heard at least two shots.

Stoneham was taken to Memorial Hermann Hospital where he was pronounce dead.

A veteran firefighter, Stoneham joined the Houston Fire Department in 1980 and was promoted to inspector in 1999.

"We regret the off-duty loss of Houston Fire Inspector David Stoneham. We will provide any support the Houston Police Department requires," fire department officials said in a release.

Stoneham's daughter watched her stepfather drive away in a pickup truck that he had parked a short distance away.

The motive in the slaying remains under investigation. Stoneham's daughter told police she didn't hear either man say anything before the fatal shooting.

Houston Police Department officers didn't know what sparked the deadly confrontation but said the two men may have argued previously.

State records show Bell is a convicted sex offender. He was sentenced to 45 years in prison after a 1985 conviction for aggravated sexual assault in Harris County.

He was also charged with three counts of aggravated robbery in connection with the sexual assault, according to Harris County records.

Police described Bell as 5 feet 7 inches tall, weighing about 400 pounds. He is bald and has a beard.

Anyone with information about the case or the man's whereabouts is asked to contact the Houston Police Department Homicide Division at 713-308-3600.

Brian Rogers contributed to this report.