A suspected car thief is in the hospital after being shot by an Houston Police Department officer.
The incident took place on the 5800 block of Bellaire Blvd in Southwest Houston on Monday morning around 12:30 when an officer tried to pull over a stolen vehicle. Assistant chief James Jones said officers observed the stolen vehicle when looking for a different vehicle related to a shooting.
“The officers tried to stop the vehicle, the vehicle failed to stop for approximately a mile,” Jones said. ” The vehicle turned west on Bellaire, pulled into the parking lot … Two of the occupants of the vehicle fled from the vehicle. Officers pursued the suspect. One suspect had a handgun, officers felt threatened. Officer discharged his weapon four to five times striking the suspect once, I believe. The suspect was provided medical care and transported to the hospital.”
Jones said the suspect did not discharge his weapon, and that all other people in the vehicle were taken in.
Jones said that the suspect underwent surgery and is in stable condition. The other suspect was captured a short time later.
The shooting will be investigated by the District Attorney’s office and video will be released within 30 days, according to Jones.