Suspect shot by police in NE Houston

By DALE LEZON

HOUSTON CHRONICLE
Nov. 8, 2010, 5:59AM

A Houston police officer shot a man who was fighting with another officer over a gun during a confrontation early this morning in northeast Houston.

The shooting occurred at 4800 Laura Koppe near Lockwood about 2 a.m., police said.

Police said the man, whose name has not been released, was shot once in the head and was rushed to Ben Taub General Hospital. He was in critical condition.

The officer who was wrestling with the man slightly injured his thumb. Police said he thought he hurt his thumb when the man apparently tried to fire at him during the struggle.

No other injuries were reported.

An officer on patrol spotted a man and woman in a parking lot of a business and apparently conducting a drug deal, said John Cannon, a spokesman for the Houston Police Department. He told them to stop and radioed for backup. The woman obeyed the command, but the man ran west on Laura Koppe.

Cannon said the officer got out of his squad car and ran after the suspect. During the chase, the man turned around toward the officer and fired one shot at him. The officer heard the bullet whizz past his head.

The officer caught the man and they fell to the ground, struggling over the man's revolver.

A second officer who had been called the scene saw the fight and the suspect gain control of the gun, Cannon said.

Cannon said that's when the second officer, who has been on the force for about a year, fired at least once, hitting the man in the head. The officer's name has not been released.

HPD's Homicide and Internal Affairs divisions and the Harris County District Attorney's Office will investigate the case.

dale.lezon@chron.com

 

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7284403.html