Houston crime: Suspect arrested following officer-involved shooting in north Houston
HOUSTON - Houston Police Department has arrested a man in connection to the officer-involved shooting in north Houston on Monday afternoon.
Albert Verin Holmer, 23, faces charges of aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon and unlawful carrying of a weapon in the 179th State District Court.
Holmer's charges include aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon and unlawful carrying of a weapon.(Courtesy of Houston Police Department)
Officials said the shooting occurred at 535 Seminar Drive just before 4 p.m.
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Houston Police Department Executive Assistant Chief Larry Satterwhite said that around 3:30 p.m., HPD North Belt Patrol Division Tactical Unit officers were in the area looking for a suspect wanted for aggravated robbery and felon in possession of a firearm.
Satterwhite said officers were looking around, spotted him in a vehicle. A marked HPD patrol vehicle attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the car the suspect was in. However, the suspect parked his car in an apartment complex and began running.
Officials said the officers who were chasing the suspect gave multiple verbal commands for the suspect to stop. However, the suspect continued on and was seen discarding narcotics that he had on him.
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According to reports, Officer Lopez saw Holmer pull a pistol out of his jacket pocket and turn toward them. Officers told the suspect to put the gun down, and that's when Officer Lopez fired his weapon at Holmer, who was shot in the arm. The suspect fell to the ground.
The suspect, identified as Holmer, was known to carry a firearm.
Houston police released a photo of the gun that the suspect was said to have during the incident. Satterwhite said it was a 9 mm firearm with an extremely long magazine.
Photo of suspect weapon (Source: Houston Police Department)
Upon being sworn into the force in March 2017, Officer Lopez was assigned to the North Belt Patrol Division. Satterwhite said Lopez is a 7-year veteran of the Houston Police Department.
Satterwhite added both Mayor Sylvester Turner and Houston Police Department Chief Troy Finner were briefed on the situation.
Officers immediately provided medical assistance until Houston Fire Department paramedics arrived.
A paramedic transported Holmer to the hospital, where he received treatment and was discharged. Afterward, he was booked into the Harris County Jail.
This case will be investigated by the HPD Special Investigations Unit, the Internal Affairs Division and the Harris County District Attorney's Office, as they are required to do in officer-involved shootings within Houston city limits.