A police officer is critically injured after a shooting in South Houston, sparking widespread response and investigation following a vehicle pursuit, police say.
SOUTH HOUSTON, Texas — An officer was shot in the head and is in the ICU after a shooting in South Houston early Friday, prompting a large police response and raising new questions about what led up to the incident.
Video from the scene shows a heavily damaged vehicle with bullet holes and a shattered rear window — though it’s still unclear how it’s connected to the shooting.
Houston police responded around 1 a.m. to the 1400 block of Amarillo Street, near 6th Street and Avenue B, after receiving a request for assistance from South Houston police.
Officers arriving at the scene set up a perimeter and began assisting the neighboring agency.
Multiple agencies responded overnight as the situation unfolded.
Police also worked to clear freeways to help the injured officer get to Memorial Hermann Medical Center, where authorities say the officer is being treated in the ICU.
What police say led up to the shooting
According to police, the incident began as a traffic stop for an unknown violation.
Officials said the driver refused to stop, leading officers on a pursuit that stretched across town. Police said the chase was not considered high-speed.
The pursuit ended in a driveway, where officers approached the vehicle from both the driver and passenger sides.
How the shooting unfolded
Police said that during the encounter, one of the officers said the suspect had a shotgun.
An officer on the passenger side was then shot, according to authorities. Officers returned fire at the scene.
Suspect killed, investigation ongoing
Police said the suspect was pronounced dead.
Authorities have not released the suspect’s identity or additional details about what may have led to the initial traffic stop.
Houston police emphasized they are assisting South Houston police, who are leading the investigation.
Witness describes hearing gunfire, heavy police response
People in the area said they heard multiple gunshots before seeing a large law enforcement response.
“And then all of a sudden, we just hear, like, the pop pop pop,” one witness said.
The witness described helicopters arriving quickly and a heavy police presence flooding the area.
“I’m talking about 200 guys straight coming down Spencer (Highway),” the witness said.
Community reaction
Some people nearby said the incident was frightening, especially given past experiences in the area.
“We thought we was getting shot at,” another person said.
Investigation ongoing
Authorities have not said whether any other suspects were involved.
The investigation remains active as officials work to gather more details.
This is a developing story. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
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