| Houston police are investigating an incident in which an HPD officer fired his duty weapon at an armed suspect at 9202 Kindlewood Drive about 12:55 a.m. today (December 29).
The suspect, Basel Khaled Al Rifai (A/m, 22), is charged with assault-family member and terroristic threat in Harris County Criminal Court #6. A booking photo of Al Rifai is attached to this news release.
HPD Officer A. Martinez, who discharged his duty weapon, was not injured in the incident. Officer Martinez is assigned to the Westside Patrol Division and was sworn in as an officer in March 2019.
HPD Special Investigations Unit Sergeant R. Flores and Detectives J. Turner, R. Anderson and N. Arellano reported:
HPD patrol officers responded to the above address for a report of a family disturbance with a weapon and were met by a witness. The witness stated her friend was being held inside the residence by the husband, later identified as Al Rifai, who was armed with a gun. The witness told officers she also had been threatened by Al Rifai.
Officers knocked on the door of the residence and announced themselves. Al Rifai opened the door with a rifle in his hands and pointed it in the direction of officers. Fearing for his and his fellow officers’ lives, Officer Martinez discharged his duty weapon in the direction of Al Rifai. Al Rifai, who was not struck, dropped his weapon and surrendered. He was taken into custody without further incident and subsequently charged for his role in the incident.
As is customary in HPD officer-involved shooting incidents in the Houston city limits, this case is being investigated by the Special Investigations Unit and the Internal Affairs Division.
Basel Khaled Al Rifai
VHS/JKS 12-29-21
Inc. #173458621 |
