Officer/Security Guard Involved in Shooting

Updated: Wednesday, 26 May 2010, 8:49 AM CDT

Published : Wednesday, 26 May 2010, 7:09 AM CDT

ANDREA WATKINS Reporter

HOUSTON - Investigators say an off-duty Houston police officer shot and wounded a suspect at a northwest Harris County apartment complex, one night after a similar incident in a southeast Houston apartment complex.

The shooting took place on Tuesday night at the the Bellmeade Apartment Home on Legacy Park Drive near Round Up Lane. The officer accused in the shooting is a resident at the apartment complex and was performing security rounds at approximately 10:15 p.m. when he says he saw a man inside his private vehicle.

The Houston Police Department officer, identified only as J. Rice, told investigators that he shouted to the suspect that he was a police officer and commanded the suspect to stop. Instead, the suspect allegedly ran away from the officer and then, according to investigators, suddently turned toward the officer as he was reaching for something in his pants.

Officer Rice says he feared the suspect was pulling a gun so he shot the man one time. The suspect was taken to Ben Taub General Hospital where he is listed in stable condition as of Wednesday morning.

Investigators say that Officer Rice has been with HPD just less than a year. He was not hurt in the incident. HPD detectives are investigating, but because the shooting took place in Harris County, it is also under investigation by the Harris County Sheriff's Office.