3 officers injured in Houston Police Shootout speak exclusively to FOX 26
HOUSTON - It's been a week since three officers with the Houston Police Department were injured during a shootout with a suspect near downtown. Fortunately, all three officers have since been released from the hospital and the shooter is behind bars.
BACKGROUND: 3 Houston police officers shot, in stable condition, suspect taken into custody following standoff
"I was shot in my right forearm right near my joint," said Officer Daniel Hayden. "My whole arm went numb I couldn’t feel my arm my gun arm."
The 32-year-old Hayden is a 3-year veteran with HPD and one of three officers fired upon in broad daylight in Third Ward last Thursday.
Police say Roland Caballero, 31, a wanted fugitive fired dozens of shots from a gun illegally altered. He apparently opened fire on the officers after he crashed following a chase.
MORE: Roland Caballero facing federal charges for injuring 3 officers
"When we pulled up on scene when we first saw that he crashed we saw him punch out the car with a gun," Hayden said. "We just had to get out of the way at that point."
35-year-old Officer Nathan Gadson, a 4-year department veteran echoed his fellow officer's statement.
How illegal gun modification played factor in Houston police shootout
The gun used in Thursday’s shootout with police appears to have been illegally modified to operate as an automatic weapon: a machine gun. The Houston office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) demonstrates how machine guns work and are highly illegal.
"Overwhelming support from the city from friends from across the nation," added Officer Nathan Gadson. "It's good to know that people still believe in what we do."
He was shot in the heel as he was exiting his patrol car.
"I would like to thank my training from the Marine Corp my good partners that I train with to keep myself in the fight," Gadson added. "I just hope that everybody sees that we don't back down from the evil that's in our city."
EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: Gunfight leaves three Houston police officers shot
Exclusive video shows the gunfight between a suspect and Houston police officers on a street just south of downtown. At least one gunman is seen running from the scene as officers give chase. Three officers were injured in this exchange. Credit: Ben Simon
Finally, Officer Anthony Alvarez, 28, who has been with the HPD for two years was the last officer to be released from the hospital on Monday talked about his recovery.
"I was shot in the inner thigh causing my femur to break, and the bullet stayed lodged in my buttock area," said Houston Police Officer Anthony Alvarez. "What was going through my mind when I got shot was making sure the suspect wasn't going to come back towards us keeping my eyes on him."
MORE: Houston PD Chief Troy Finner calls for more action against gun violence
"I told my buddy Gadson to put a tourniquet on me because man I was hurting," he concluded.