Houston police shoot teen who allegedly fired at officers on Liberty Road

HOUSTON - A teen was shot after opening fire on officers in northeast Houston on Thursday night, according to the police department.

The teen was last reported to be hospitalized in stable condition. The officers were not injured in the shooting.

According to Houston Police Chief Noe Diaz, the incident began around 9:43 p.m., when officers observed what they believed to be a hand-to-hand exchange of possible narcotics in the street.

"Officers in uniform, in a marked patrol car, approached two young men in the street. As the officers approached them, the two young men fled on foot," Chief Diaz said.

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The officers got out of their patrol cars, slowly walking at first, and told the suspects to stop, the chief says.

According to Chief Diaz, one of the officers noticed that one of the suspects had a handgun in his waistband.

The foot chase picked up speed, but an officer was able to detain the suspect who had the gun, the chief says.

Photo from the scene

"A brief struggle happened. The young man was able to get away from the officer. That young man then continued to run up the street. As he was running from the officer, he turned and fired, we believe at least twice, at the officers," Chief Diaz says.

Chief Diaz says the officer returned fire, striking the teen multiple times in the upper torso.

"They immediately administered first aid, which included a tourniquet, as well as blood clotting agents," Chief Diaz says.

The teen, possibly 15 or 16 years old, was taken to the hospital.

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The police chief says the second suspect got away as the officers were administering aid. There is no description of that male at this time.

The Houston Police Department and the Harris County District Attorney’s Office are investigating.

Per policy, the officer will be placed on administrative leave. That officer has not been identified but is said to have been with the department for eight years.