HARRIS COUNTY – A security guard was shot while trying to stop an attempted robbery at a poker room in north Harris County Thursday morning, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said.
Deputies responded to the Texas Card House poker room in the 1400 block of Spring Cypress Road shortly after 6 a.m.
Sheriff Gonzalez said several suspects attempted to rob the poker room. The security guard, who was on-site, got involved and attempted to stop the robbery.
That was when, according to Gonzalez, a “gun battle” ensued between the suspects, with “dozens of shots fired.” The security guard was hit by the gunfire.
Gonzalez said the suspects fled the scene before HCSO deputies arrived.
No customers were hurt.
KPRC 2 spoke with a card dealer named Andrew. He asked not to show his face. He said he just made his way inside Texas Card Club, seconds before shots were fired.
“I walk back in, 40 seconds later, pop, pop, pop,” said Andrew. “All I saw was bullets coming through the window.”
Harris County sheriff’s deputies said a security officer got in a gun battle with four men attempting to rob the poker room. The officer, known as Officer Jackson, was hit seven times.
“They attacked him from the back. He fired his weapon as they fired upon him and he was hit seven times,” said Tommy Wilson, Officer Jackson’s boss and CEO of God’s Armour Security.
“Our security officer (Officer Jackson) came stumbling back in the door and told us that they had left and that the threat was over,” said Andrew.
Andrew said witnesses rushed to help Officer Jackson. The suspects got away, leaving behind a gun on the ground. Officer Jackson is alive and is recovering in the hospital.
“I’ve been with him all morning. He has good spirits. All of the bullets exited his body except one and we’re waiting to see now if he has to have foot surgery,” said Wilson.
Andrew believes Officer Jackson is the reason everyone is alive.
“There are no words. Thank you. For what you did. You truly, you put your life on the line for us and you didn’t have to. Who does that?” said Andrew.
The sheriff’s office said it has surveillance video from the shooting. They have not released it at this time. Deputies have not released a description of the suspects, but if you have any information you are urged to contact the Harris County Sheriffs Office at (713)-221-6000
@HCSOTexas deputies responded to an incident at a game room located at 1411 Spring Cypress (Spring). It appears several male suspects attempted to rob the place. A gun battle ensued between a security officer on-site & the suspects, with dozens of shots fired. The suspects
— Ed Gonzalez (@SheriffEd_HCSO) July 20, 2023
1/2 pic.twitter.com/0WQyBg1O8L