HOUSTON – A Fort Bend Independent School District police officer is accused of shooting his wife during a domestic dispute at a home in southeast Houston, according to the Houston Police Department.
The shooting was reported at 3:49 p.m. at a home in the 14200 block of Prosperity Ridge Drive.
Police said the accused officer shot his wife in the chest. The couple has three children and one child was inside the home during the shooting, officials said. The wife was taken to Ben Taub Hospital and expected to survive her injuries.
The officer is currently being held in custody and is being questioned, police said. The officer has been in law enforcement for 12 years, officials said.
The circumstances surrounding the shooting are currently under investigation.
“I was surprised,” said neighbor, Malcolm Lacoste.
Lacoste said he has lived next door for years and knows the officer.
“He’s a very mild-mannered person. Very quiet. He’s like a big teddy bear,” Lacoste said.
The school district said the officer was placed on leave from his job pending an investigation. The school district’s police chief said the officer was still in custody as of Monday night but was not arrested or charged.
“They both seemed like peaceful people,” Lacoste said. “I mean, I personally never known them to be in any situation that would lead up to this.”
Fort Bend ISD released the following statement:
“Fort Bend ISD has been made aware of an FBISD police officer who was involved in a domestic dispute and taken into custody by the Houston Police Department. The employee is currently on administrative leave, pending an investigation. The HPD investigation is ongoing, and as of this moment, there have been no charges or arrests.
“As normal protocol, the District’s Human Resources Department and the Fort Bend ISD Police Department will conduct internal investigations and take all appropriate actions when the investigation is completed. We will continue to work closely with all parties as they continue their investigation.”
If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, you can seek help at the National Domestic Violence Hotline website or by calling 1-800-799-7233.