Houston officer-involved shooting: Suspect killed in Second Ward, no officers injured
HOUSTON - A suspect is dead following an officer-involved shooting in Houston's Second Ward on Thursday evening.
According to Houston Police Department Executive Assistant Chief Larry Satterwhite, there was a call about a robbery in the 6800 block of Harrisburg at an insurance shop. Then minutes later, a second call dropped in the 6400 block of Brady at a neighborhood ice cream shop.
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Satterwhite said officers in the area began searching for the suspect, who was said to be on an electric scooter, and later located him.
An officer gave commands to the suspect, that's when officers said the suspect began fleeing from the officer and gave chase.
During the chase, Satterwhite said the suspect produced a small caliber semi-automatic firearm and fired several rounds toward the officer.
The officer then shot back and struck him.
Satterwhite stated the officers then immediately approached the suspect to render aid, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The suspect is described as a Hispanic male in his late 20s or early 30s. His name was not released by authorities.
Officials said the officer who fired the shots at the suspect was a 30-year veteran with the department and was ‘very shaken up.’ That officer will be placed on administrative duty while the investigation into the shooting continues.
Satterwhite added they believe the suspect will be responsible for a total of 5 robberies in recent days or weeks as there were robberies that had the same motive and mode of transportation.
Following the deadly shooting, officers returned to the ice cream shop to question staff members.
The manager of the shop told us, the man had on a mask and hoodie. He mostly spoke in Spanish, asking them for the money, and he got away with the cash within a couple of minutes.
"I just needed to do what he told me to do, and just get him out of here. My concern was the safety of my employees and the people that were around me, and if any customers were inside too. That’s the only thing," said Maddy Garza, the manager of Magnolia Ice Cream Shop.
The manager said they did close the shop early for the day as they said they were a bit shaken up, but they're glad everyone is ok.
No other injuries were reported.
The investigation into the shooting is ongoing.