HOUSTON – A man being sought in connection with the shooting of a deputy in north Harris County was taken into custody Tuesday night.
The shooting was reported about 5:50 p.m. in the area of Forestburg and Veterans Memorial drives.
Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said the man believed to be the gunman, identified as 38-year-old Moises Martinez, was arrested after a massive manhunt that lasted for more than three hours.
More than a dozen law enforcement vehicles were at the scene while dozens of officers and deputies scoured the area.
Gonzalez said the shooting happened when two deputies responded to a report of a suspicious person in the neighborhood. He said that when they arrived, a man pulled out a gun and began firing at them. He said one of the deputies was hit several times and the other was able to return fire. He said the man fled the scene.
The sheriff said the wounded deputy, who he identified only as 35-year-old Deputy Barragan, suffered injuries to his hands, cheek and back. Gonzalez said Barragan is listed in stable condition and is expected to be OK.
According to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, Barragan is awaiting surgery for his hand wound and is expected to be released in the next few days.
Gonzalez said the injured deputy has been with the Sheriff’s Office for 18 months but worked for a different agency for eight years before becoming a Harris County deputy.
The sheriff said Martinez was booked on three open felony warrants: two charges of aggravated assault on a public servant and another for felon in possession of a weapon. Investigators are still searching for the pistol used in the shooting.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the sheriff’s office at 713-274-9100.