HOUSTON – After a Houston police officer was shot Monday night, Mayor John Whitmire and Police Chief Larry Satterwhite paid the officer a visit in the hospital.
“Mayor John Whitmire and HPD Chief Satterwhite took time off from emergency response operations to visit Officer Fernando Garcia, who was shot in the line of duty,” a Facebook post from Mayor Whitmire’s account read.
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Officer Fernando Garcia, 36, suffered a gunshot wound to the leg while responding to an assault in progress.
Garcia and his partner approached the apartment where the assault was reported, when the suspect standing near the door began firing shots towards them. After Garcia was shot, his partner was able to deescalate the situation and apprehend the suspect before the situation got worse.
No shots were fired at the suspect during the ordeal.
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Garcia was taken to Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center in stable condition. A media release from the City of Houston did not confirm when he is expected to be released from the hospital.
The suspect, 39-year-old Ricardo Lezama, was charged with two counts of aggravated assault on a public servant.
As is standard in shooting incidents involving officers, the situation is being analyzed by the HPD Special Investigations Unit and the Harris County District Attorney’s Office.