Houston police officer shoots suspect on Bellaire Blvd

HOUSTON - Houston police say an investigation into a carjacking ended with an armed suspect shot by an officer on Friday morning.

Authorities identified the man Saturday as Joseph Ceasar Taylor, 30, who was taken to the hospital and was last reported to be in stable condition. No officers were injured.

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According to police, the incident began around 6:48 a.m. with a carjacking in the 2700 block of Woodland Park Drive. About 30 minutes later, police say officers located the vehicle behind a mall.

Police began following the vehicle and initiated a traffic stop, but Taylor took off, officials say.

At some point, the 30-year-old hit another motorist’s vehicle, disabling the vehicle the suspect was in near the 8400 block of Bellaire, police say. Authorities say he then got out and took off on foot.

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Police say Taylor ran through an apartment complex until he reached a gate he could not get through, and officers gave him commands to surrender. According to officials, he did not surrender, and officers deployed a taser that was not effective.

Taylor reportedly took off running again toward a courtyard. Police say that’s where he produced a handgun and ignored officers’ commands.

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At some point, the officer fired at least two shots, police say. The suspect reportedly kept running up a flight of stairs. Police say the officer discharged his gun again, and then the suspect surrendered.

The suspect was taken to the hospital with a gunshot wound to the lower leg or ankle area. His injuries are not believed to be life-threatening. As of Saturday, Taylor was booked in jail and charged with four felonies including carjacking and shooting. 

We're told he was found with 3 firearms on his person at the time.  

An investigation remains underway.