HARRIS COUNTY, Texas – Several officers were involved in a shooting Monday night at a restaurant in northwest Harris County, according to the Houston Police Department.
Police said a robbery task force was tracking several suspected thieves who they said were in a white Ford Mustang. They followed the suspects to a Jack in the Box restaurant in the 6900 block of Highway 6 at FM 529 where the group robbed the restaurant and attempted to flee.
The officers ordered the suspects to drop their weapons and surrender, but the group began firing at three HPD officers and four DPS troopers who then fired back, police said.
Officers shot three of the suspected robbers. One of the three died at a hospital
"The first few were very quick like fireworks. Then the last few, maybe five were just 'boom, boom, boom,' like really slow, but loud and powerful," a witness said.
Police said 17-year-old Xavier Cox was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. A 15-year-old boy was taken to a hospital where he is in critical but stable condition, according to police.
Officers said A 16-year-old boy was taken to a hospital where he died.
18-year-old Javalon Robinson was not injured and was arrested in the getaway vehicle. Robinson was free on bond for a deadly conduct charge. Police said Robinson has had run-ins with the law since he was 16 years old.
Cox and Robinson are charged with aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon, according to police.
The officers involved in the shooting were Sgts. C. Anderson, K. Bounds and Officer W. Peverill.
There were no customers in the restaurant at the the time of the shooting.
"There were officers on the ground. Officers hidden behind buildings. The helicopter had the spotlight on them," a witness said. "There were probably 35 police vehicles surrounding the area."
DPS has not released the names of the troopers involved in the shooting.
No officers were injured.
WATCH: SWAT standoff with suspected Jack in the Box thieves
Investigators said they will be looking at video of the shooting, along with the other evidence.
"We do have body worn cameras from our officers that they had on. They were activated and so obviously there will be body worn cameras video from the Houston Police Department," Chief Art Acevedo said. "And I'm certain we'll have video from these different businesses."
Officers said the group is wanted in connection with at least ten aggravated robberies in the North West 1960 area.
