December 2nd, 2023 - Houston, Texas

Published December 2nd, 2023

An officer with the Houston, Texas, Police Department was shot early Saturday morning. At approximately 1:00 a.m. Saturday, a Detective Sergeant and two officers with the Houston Police Department were conducting a surveillance operation related to an ongoing burglary investigation. The officers observed a person of interest in the investigation, who was casing several businesses in the area. The officers lost sight of this person, and the Sergeant parked his vehicle in an alleyway to continue the surveillance of the area. At some point, the person of interest walked up to the passenger side of the Sergeant’s vehicle and opened fire, striking the Sergeant multiple times. The Sergeant was able to get out of his vehicle and return fire, striking the shooter.    

The other officers and medical personnel arrived to aid the shooter and the Sergeant; the shooter was determined to be deceased from the injuries he sustained. The Sergeant was struck multiple times in the arms, legs, and his torso, and was transported to a local hospital for treatment. At a Saturday afternoon press conference, Houston Police Chief Troy Finner stated that the Sergeant was awake after treatment and is expected to make a full recovery. Chief Finner also stated that the round that struck the Sergeant’s torso was stopped by the ballistic-resistant vest he was wearing, and that the vest “likely saved his life.” The incident remains under investigation by Houston PD.