Charges have been filed against a male suspect shot by law enforcement officers at 7819 Saint Louis Street about 11 a.m. on August 14.
The suspect, Demetri O’Neal Thomas, 45, is charged with four counts of aggravated assault against a public servant and three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in the 183rd Criminal District Court. A booking photo of Thomas, who remains hospitalized, is not available at this time.
HPD Officers J. Avila, J. Luna and J. Avery all discharged their duty weapons and are assigned to the Northeast Patrol Division. Officer Avila was sworn in as an officer in May 2022 and Officers Luna and Avery were both sworn in as officers in June 2024. One Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) trooper also discharged his duty weapon. No officers were injured.
HPD Homicide Division Special Investigations Unit Detectives M. Childs and K. Vu reported:
HPD patrol officers responded to multiple 911 calls in the 6200 block of North Wayside Drive at St. Louis Street reporting a male suspect armed with a rifle was shooting at driving vehicles. A DPS trooper arrived in the area and was flagged down by multiple people pointing in the direction of the suspect. HPD officers arrived immediately after. Officers then located the male suspect armed with a rifle on a front porch at the above address.
Officers gave the suspect multiple commands to drop the weapon, but the suspect refused. After multiple attempts to get the suspect to drop the rifle, he raised the weapon. Three HPD officers and the DPS trooper discharged their weapons, striking the suspect.
Officers rendered first aid until he was transported by responding Houston Fire Department paramedics to an area hospital in critical condition.
Officers located three victims suffering from gunshot wounds from the suspect discharging his firearm at their vehicles. Two victims were transported to an area hospital. All victims are in stable condition.
As is customary in officer involved shootings, this incident is being investigated by the HPD Homicide Division Special Investigations Unit (SIU), the Internal Affairs Division and the Harris County District Attorney’s Office.
Anyone with information in this case is urged to contact the HPD Homicide Division at 713-308-3600.
ECR/JKS 8-17-26
Inc. #102878926