Houston police are investigating an incident in which an HPD officer discharged his duty weapon striking a suspect at 10500 Beechnut about 4:20 p.m. on Thursday (Feb. 21).
The male suspect, whose identity is pending additional investigation and possible charges, was transported to Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital in stable condition.
HPD Officer A. Cole, who discharged his duty weapon, was not injured in this incident. He was sworn in as an officer in April, 2015 and is assigned to the Midwest Patrol Division.
HPD Special Investigations Unit Sergeant H. Chavez and Detective J. Villareal, R. De La Rosa, M. Rodriguez and G. Potter reported:
The suspect and his brother left an apartment complex at the above address in their vehicle and noticed a black Volkswagen following them. The suspect’s brother was driving their vehicle and attempted to elude the occupants of the black VW, unsuccessfully ending back at the same apartment complex. The suspect’s brother pulled into the parking lot in front of the leasing office and the VW followed them. The suspect then exited his vehicle and ran onto the complex property and his brother followed after parking the vehicle.
Several occupants of the black VW then exited their vehicle and began pursuing the suspect and his brother on foot into the complex. The suspect emerged a few seconds later with a gun, and started chasing the suspects back to the VW. The suspect then began shooting at the black VW as it fled westbound on Beechnut. At that time, two off-duty HPD officers, working an approved extra job, observed the suspect shooting at the black VW, and exited their vehicle to confront the suspect. The officers gave the suspect verbal commands to drop his weapon and, at that time, after pointing his weapon at the officer, he turned and ran toward a group of people in the area. One of the officers feared for the safety of the citizens the suspect was running toward and discharged his duty weapon at the suspect, striking him at least once. The suspect was transported to the hospital for treatment of non life-threatening injuries. The suspect’s gun was recovered at the scene. The occupants of the black VW are unknown at this time.
As is customary in HPD officer-involved shooting incidents in the city limits, the incident is being investigated by the HPD Special Investigations Unit, the HPD Internal Affairs Division and the Harris County District Attorney’s Office.
JKS/VHS 2-22-19
Inc. #022869919