Suspect in custody following shooting of 3 Houston police officers

(CN) — A suspect was in custody after allegedly shooting three Houston Police Officers Thursday afternoon.

The suspect, who has not been identified, is believed to have shot at police officers with a “fully automatic” weapon, Houston Police Chief Troy Finner said during a news conference. The disturbance began shortly before 3 p.m. when police responded to a family disturbance, Finner said.

The suspect opened fire at officers before jumping into a vehicle and driving away. Police followed the suspect who crashed, then opened fire again. Mayor Sylvester Turner said one officer was shot in the foot; another in the leg and the third was hit in the arm. Turner said their injuries are likely not life threatening.

He said it is still unknown whether the suspect was injured during either of the shootings.

Following the crash and gunfire, the suspect carjacked a white Mercedes at gunpoint and drove to a home in residential area northeast of downtown Houston, then barricaded himself, Finner said.

KPRC of Houston, an NBC affiliate, reported that loud bangs echoed through the neighborhood after officers arrived to the home where the suspect was barricaded. A witness told the station he heard 40 gunshots. Officers then surrounded the home, according to the station. Live footage showed a large number of police officers in the area, trucks carrying heavy equipment and armored vehicles.

Through a megaphone, an officer told the suspect that his girlfriend was worried about him, the station said. A motive for the shootings wasn’t immediately known.

Officials at the news conference asked residents to help curb a recent uptick in gun violence.

“These are inherently dangerous times – that was demonstrated again today,” Turner said. “There are a lot of guns on the street. Quite frankly, there are just too many on the street and in the hands of people who will use them in a second."

Turner said he visited each of the officers in the hospital.

“All three officers are in good spirits, all were talkative, and we expressed our support of them,” he said.

Thursday’s incident followed the fatal shooting Sunday of Cpl. Charles Galloway, a Harris County precinct constable who was killed in what was described as a “brutal attack” during a traffic stop. Houston officials announced earlier Thursday that they had the suspect in custody.

Follow @https://twitter.com/sabrinacanfiel2

Subscribe to Closing Arguments

Sign up for new weekly newsletter Closing Arguments to get the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and hot cases and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world.

Email *

Submit