HOUSTON – A Houston police officer is on administrative leave after he shot a man at a southeast Houston Denny's restaurant.
The officer, Julio Lopez, was eating with family, including his Marine brother who had recently returned from Afghanistan, and friends at the restaurant on the Gulf Freeway near Airport about 3 a.m. Thursday when Clemente Vela, 32, his cousin, another Marine who had recently returned from Afghanistan, and a co-worker arrived, according to detectives.
The two groups got into an argument and Lopez, who was not on duty, went out to his car to call for help, police said.
While Lopez was outside, he said his family and friends and the three men came outside of the restaurant and were about to fight, police said.
"The suspect is armed with a knife," HPD spokesman Victor Senties said. "He's approaching his brother in a threatening manner with a knife as if he's about to stab him."
Lopez, who was not in uniform, pulled out his gun and fired into the air, then identified himself as a police officer, police said.
"The suspect ignored that got even more aggressive and went toward the officer with the knife in his hand as if was about to stab him," Senties said.
Detectives said Lopez claimed Vela then charged at him, so he shot Vela multiple times.
Vela was rushed to Memorial Hermann Hospital with gunshot wounds to his stomach and leg. He is expected to survive. He has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
Police said they found two switchblades on the ground.
Vela's cousin was questioned at the scene and released. The co-worker was arrested on an unrelated warrant.
Lopez and his family and friends were not hurt.
Internal affairs is investigating the incident. He was placed on three days of administrative leave.
There will also be a probe to see if alcohol was involved. Vela had been drinking at a nightclub earlier that evening, investigators said.
Lopez has been with HPD for five years.