| Houston police are investigating an incident in which an armed suspect was fatally shot by HPD officers at 11100 Cheeves Drive about 7:45 p.m. on Wednesday (May 18).
The identity of the male suspect is pending verification by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences.
HPD Officers J. Salinas and K. Donohue, who discharged their duty weapons, are assigned to the HPD Northeast Patrol Division and were sworn in as officers in August 2021 and December 2016, respectively.
HPD Special Investigations Unit Detectives M. Childs, C. King, H. Le and D. Hammons reported:
HPD patrol officers responded to an report of a stolen vehicle at a residence at 11100 Lera Road. A female told officers her boyfriend (suspect) was behaving erratically while they were in her vehicle and repeatedly pointed a gun at her daughters. The suspect then kicked his girlfriend and her daughters out of her 2008 black Chevrolet Tahoe and fled the location.
As officers arrived on scene and were conducting their investigation, the suspect returned, driving his girlfriend’s Tahoe. When the suspect saw the officers, he fled. A description of the vehicle was broadcast on police radios and nearby officers located the vehicle traveling northbound on Cheeves Drive. The suspect then accelerated the Tahoe and intentionally struck Officer Salinas’ patrol vehicle, causing damage to both vehicles. Officer Salinas reversed his patrol vehicle to create distance as the suspect drove the Tahoe into a nearby yard at the intersection. The suspect exited his vehicle and fired shots at Officer Salinas. Officer Donohue then arrived in his patrol vehicle and the suspect also pointed his weapon at the officer. Fearing for his safety, Officer Donahue discharged his duty weapon at the suspect, but it is unknown if the suspect was struck at that time.
The suspect then fled on foot westbound on Heath Street, while pointing the gun at officers and refusing to comply with officers’ commands to drop his weapon. Fearing for their lives, both Officers Salinas and Donohue discharged their duty weapons and struck the suspect. Officers immediately provided medical assistance until Houston Fire Department paramedics arrived and transported the suspect to Ben Taub General Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased. Officer Salinas was transported to an area hospital with minor injuries where he was treated and released.
As is customary in HPD officer-involved shootings in the Houston city limits, this case is being investigated by the HPD Special Investigations Unit, the Internal Affairs Division and the Harris County District Attorney’s Office.
VHS/JKS 5-19-22
Inc. #066006922 |
