Reward doubles to $20,000 in HPD officer shooting

HOUSTON, TX - A intense search for a shooting suspect continues as two HPD officers recover in the hospital. Crime Stoppers has doubled the reward to $20,000 for any information leading to the arrest of that shooter.

Now the concern falls to the two HPD officers. One of the officers, Jose Munoz, 34 is recovering in Ben Taub Hospital. He is in stable condition at this time and is expected to be released today. The other officer, his partner, Ronny Cortez, a 24-year veteran, is at Memorial Hermann. He's currently in critical condition. Cortez was shot several times.  

The violence began during a burglary investigation in a Southwest Houston neighborhood. The burglary reportedly happened in the 8700 block of Sterlingame, one of the 1800 homes in that neighborhood contained a storage shed in the backyard. One of the suspects opened fire when the officers opened the door. The officers were then able to return fire, killing one of the suspects. The other got away. Police are intensifying their search for one of the suspects.   "Please continue to pray for our two officers who are still here with us. We just need to continue prayers for a full recovery," said HPD Police chief, Art Acevedo.  Ronny Cortez is a member of the neighborhood that was being investigated.