Two officers shot in southwest Houston
HOUSTON (FOX 26) - Two officers were shot and have been taken to Ben Taub Hospital and Memorial Hermann Hospital - Texas Medical Center, the Houston Police Department has confirmed.
HPD Chief Art Acevedo says one suspect is still outstanding and should be considered armed and dangerous. The suspect is described as a man wearing dark clothing and a blue bandana. A reward has been doubled to $20,000 for information leading to the arrest of the suspect.
Chief Acevedo also says three homes were burglarized and the suspect who was killed had been involved in at least one burglary
A shelter-in-place order for the following boundaries was lifted before 3:40 p.m. Tuesday:
- south of Bellfort Avenue
- west of Gessner Drive
- north of West Airport Boulevard
- east of Beltway 8/Sam Houston Tollway
Officers approached a home after a reported burglary, sources tell FOX 26 News reporter Isiah Carey. Mayor Sylvester Turner says the suspects were still in the area when officers arrived and shooting broke out. Two officers were shot. One of the officers was shot multiple times and suffered a shot to his spine. One of the suspects is dead.
Officer Jose Munoz, who has served with HPD for ten years, was taken to Ben Taub Hospital and is in stable condition with a foot injury that is not life-threatening. Officer Ronny Cortez, who has served with HPD for 24 years, was taken to Memorial Hermann Hospital - Texas Medical Center and is listed in critical condition.
As a result of the search for the suspect, the following schools were locked down until around 3:40 p.m. Tuesday:
- Valley West Elementary
- Gross Elementary
- Welch Middle School
The Houston Community College Brays Oaks Campus was also locked down as a precaution and later closed for the day, but is expected to open on Wednesday morning and resume its normal hours of operation.
Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg expressed her thoughts and prayers for the officers.
"Our thoughts are with the two officers shot in the line of duty today while responding to a burglary. Our prayers go out to them and their families," Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg said. "This tragedy underlines in red the fact that burglary can be a violent crime and that burglars pose a significant threat to property owners and first responders."