Suspect Dies, Child Sustains Head Wound in Houston Police Shooting

Officers with the Houston Police Department were involved in a shooting late Wednesday night that left one suspect of multiple armed robberies dead and a 1-year-old child wounded following a high-speed pursuit that ended at a gas station, according to an HPD press release.

HPD’s Midwest Patrol Division Crime Suppression Team (CST) was investigating a string of aggravated robberies that had taken place in the area of the 7931 Southwest Freeway (US Highway 59 South) service road in Houston, where the shooting took place. Officers identified a black Mercedes-Benz that was known to be connected to multiple incidents under investigation. 

The CST officers attempted to pull over the vehicle, which rapidly accelerated in an apparent attempt to evade the officers. The driver of the Mercedes-Benz lost control and crashed at a nearby gas station, rendering the vehicle disabled. 

The suspect exited his vehicle with a pistol in hand and attempted to carjack a bystander’s vehicle at gunpoint. The suspect forced his way into the citizen’s vehicle, parked next to the gas pumps — the mother and her 1-year-old child were still in the vehicle. 

Officers surrounded the vehicle with squad cars, as seen in security video footage released to KHOU 11 and uploaded to YouTube. The officers then gave commands for the suspect to exit the vehicle and drop his pistol. The suspect continued to ignore the commands.

“Fearing for the safety of the citizen and her one-year-old child, who were both still in the vehicle, one officer discharged his weapon more than one time, striking the suspect,” HPD said. 

Officers on the scene provided first aid, but paramedics who arrived pronounced him dead. Officers also provided first aid to the child, who was also struck by the gunfire, before the child was transported to the hospital with a head wound. HPD said the baby was in stable condition.