HOUSTON – Houston Police said a suspect has been taken to a hospital after he was shot by an officer in northeast Houston Sunday.
Police said it happened in the 8400 block of Tidwell Road around 7:40 p.m. Sunday.
HPD Commanders and PIO are en route an officer involved shooting in the 8400 block of Tidwell Rd.
— Houston Police (@houstonpolice) January 8, 2024
Prelim info is a male suspect was shot about 7:40 p.m. The suspect was conscious & breathing when he was taken to a hospital.
No officers were hurt.#HouNews pic.twitter.com/15OY3D0uSI
According to Kevin Deese, Assistant Chief with HPD, two officers pulled into the parking lot of a gas station and noticed a strong odor of marijuana. They began investigating and saw a single vehicle in the parking lot.
The officers made contact with the driver who they said acknowledged that he had been smoking marijuana. Officers asked him to step out of the vehicle several times, but the man refused.
Deese said the officers then tried to forcefully remove him from the car. The man resisted these efforts.
At one point, Deese said one of the officers noticed a handgun laying on the floorboard of the vehicle at the man’s feet. An officer used a taser on the suspect, but it was unsuccessful.
One of the officers noticed the man reaching for the gun in the vehicle. At this time, the officer fired his gun, hitting the suspect in his lower body. Deese said the suspect was shot either in the leg or the groin.
The suspect was able to run into the gas station where a struggle ensued between the suspect and officers. Officers were able to take the man into custody.
Deese said the man who was shot was conscious and breathing when he was taken to the hospital.
No officers were hurt during the incident.
The suspect’s name has not been released at this time. The charges he will be facing will be determined during the course of the investigation.