Man shot by off-duty deputy in west Harris County
Off-Duty Deputy Shoots Suspected Burglar Alief
Breaking news from Mission Bend: An off-duty Harris County deputy shot a suspected burglar during a confrontation. The suspect is in critical condition, and the investigation is ongoing. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story!
HOUSTON - A Harris County sheriff’s deputy shot a man inside a home Sunday in the Mission Bend area, according to the sheriff’s office.
Mission Bend shooting involving off-duty Harris County deputy
What we know:
At about 5:10 p.m. Sunday, Harris County Sheriff’s Office District 4 patrol deputies were dispatched to the 7200 block of Rio Blanco Drive near Highway 6 and Bellaire Boulevard for an "assist the officer" call.
The off-duty deputy called authorities after she went to a neighbor’s home, which she knew was unoccupied because the neighbor was out of town. The deputy believed someone was burglarizing the residence, according to HCSO.
The deputy confronted a man inside the home. She reported that the man tried to disarm her, and she shot him, an HCSO major said during a news conference.
The man suffered one gunshot wound to his upper body. Deputies provided medical aid before he was flown to an area hospital, where he remained in critical condition.
The man had not been officially identified, and authorities did not release his age. It was not immediately clear whether he was armed. Investigators had not yet spoken with him.
The deputy also suffered minor injuries and was taken by ambulance to an area hospital for treatment. She has been with the sheriff’s office for 14 years, according to HCSO.
Authorities said they believe one shot was fired, but emphasized that the information is preliminary. Investigators were working to obtain legal authority to enter the residence and conduct a more extensive search.
Investigations underway
Dig deeper:
The HCSO Homicide Unit and crime scene investigators are conducting the follow-up investigation. The department’s Internal Affairs Division is also conducting an administrative investigation.
The findings will be presented to an administrative disciplinary committee to determine whether the deputy’s actions were consistent with department procedures and protocols.
The Harris County District Attorney’s Office is conducting an independent investigation, which is standard when a deputy fires a weapon. The facts from the investigations will be presented to an independent grand jury.
There was no ongoing threat to the community, according to HCSO.
What you can do:
Anyone with information is asked to call the Harris County Sheriff’s Office non-emergency line at 713-221-6000 or Crime Stoppers of Houston at 713-222-TIPS.
This is a breaking news report. We will update when more information is available.
The Source: Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez.