HOUSTON – The two people who were killed Monday during a shootout with Houston police officers have been identified by authorities.
During a news conference Tuesday, Houston police Chief Art Acevedo identified the suspects as 59-year-old Dennis Tuttle and 58-year-old Rhogena Nicholas.
Acevedo said officers raided the Harding Street residence in the Gloverdale neighborhood as part of a drug investigation. He said that when the officers entered the home, they were met by an aggressive dog, which was shot by one officer.
The chief said that Tuttle walked out of a back room in the home and used a .357 revolver to start shooting at the officers, wounding one of them. Acevedo said that as the wounded officer fell on a living room couch, Nicholas tried to grab his weapon.
Officers returned fire, killing both Tuttle and Nicholas, Acevedo said.
Acevedo said people who live in the neighborhood were the ones who reported drug activity at the home, which prompted the investigation and the search warrant that was being served Monday.
"We're not going to talk about their criminal histories," Acevedo said. "That's part of the investigation."
VIDEO: Acevedo identifies suspects
Investigators said a total of four officers were wounded by gunfire. A fifth officer suffered an injury to his knee during the shootout.
Their background
Tuttle and Nicholas were married in 1998. The address of the Harding Street home where Monday's shooting happened was used on their marriage license.
Court records showed that Tuttle had no criminal history in Harris County.
Nicholas was charged with theft by check in January 2010, according to court records. That case was dismissed about a month later after Nicholas paid $145 in restitution.
State and national searches returned no criminal history for the couple.
Harris County Appraisal District records showed that the home was owned by Tuttle.
