| Charges have been filed against a suspect arrested in an incident in which a Houston Police officer discharged his duty weapon at the suspect at 600 East Tidwell Road about 8:20 p.m. on Thursday (May 9).
The suspect, Christopher Michael Rodriguez, 36, is charged with aggravated assault of a public servant, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and felon in possession of a firearm in the 230th State District Court. An April 2023 booking photo of Rodriguez is attached to this news release, as he remains hospitalized.
HPD Officer J. Eakins, who discharged his duty weapon, was not injured in the incident. Officer Eakins is assigned to the North Patrol Division and was sworn in as an officer in November 2020.
HPD Special Investigations Unit Sergeant D. Lane and Detectives O. Flores, J. Montalvo and W. Elliott reported:
An HPD patrol officer was patrolling the area near the above address and heard gunshots. The officer drove to the location and saw a male suspect, armed with a pistol, running in front of the store. Officer Eakins exited his patrol vehicle and gave the suspect verbal commands to drop the pistol. The suspect did not comply and instead, ran the opposite way with the pistol still in his hand. Officer Eakins continued to give the suspect verbal commands to drop the pistol.
As the suspect fled, he turned toward the officer with the pistol in his hand. Fearing for his safety, Officer Eakins discharged his duty weapon several times and the suspect was struck. Officer Eakins detained the suspect until additional patrol officers arrived and provided medical assistance to the suspect. Houston Fire Department paramedics responded to the scene and transported the suspect to an area hospital with non-life-threatening gunshot wounds.
A preliminary investigation determined the gunshots fired by the suspect, later identified as Rodriguez, were a result of an altercation he had with another male. Rodriguez admitted to firing his weapon into the air just prior to officers arriving on scene. He was subsequently charged for his role in the incident.
Christopher Michael Rodriguez (2023)
VHS/JKS 5-10-24
Inc. #066960124 |
