HPD shoots man wanted for ‘violent robbery’ after he flees at Greenspoint apartments

HOUSTON – A man wanted by Houston police was shot by an officer in the Greenspoint neighborhood on Monday afternoon as authorities attempted to arrest him for a violent robbery, investigators said.

Albert Verin Holmer, 23, is charged with aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon and unlawful carrying of a weapon in the 179th State District Court. He was rushed to the hospital before being booked into the Harris County Jail.

The shooting happened in the 500 block of Seminar Drive near Imperial Valley Drive shortly before 4 p.m.

HPD North Belt Patrol Division Tactical Unit officers were in the area searching for Holmer, who reportedly had an active felony warrant for aggravated robbery. While searching for the suspect, police said his vehicle was spotted and officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop. Holmer then parked his vehicle in the parking lot of an apartment complex, exited and walked away.

Officers exited their vehicles and as they attempted to arrest Holmer, he fled on foot.

Police said they pursued Holmer and found him. The suspect then pulled a pistol out of his jacket pocket and turned toward them. Holmer wouldn’t drop the firearm despite repeated commands and HPD Officer A. Lopez fired his weapon, striking the suspect three times in the arm, according to investigators.

Surveillance video shared with KPRC 2 shows the suspect running from officers after getting out of a car on the street.

“The suspect was discarding narcotics that he had on him along the way,” Satterwhite said.

“He followed a, and this is a separate incident just to be clear, a victim out of a store, robbed him, and then beat him with a gun,” Satterwhite said.

Property Manager Steve Moore said the suspect has been repeatedly trespassing in the area. He said his properties in the area have hundreds of surveillance cameras, and the suspect has been removed in the past.

“What I want most is to take care of the residents here, that’s my priority,” Moore said. “You can get people charged with trespassing, the problem with trespassing is that crime is so high that people get chased away and then come right back.”

No officers were hurt, according to police. They are grateful no one was killed.

“We’re just out here trying to save lives,” Satterwhite said.

Officer Lopez was sworn in as an officer in March 2017 and is assigned to the North Belt Patrol Division, HPD said.

Police said Holmer has a long criminal history.

As is customary in shootings involving HPD officers within the city limits, this case will be investigated by the HPD Special Investigations Unit, the Internal Affairs Division and the Harris County District Attorney’s Office.