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At 12:20 p.m., a man displaying a weapon was reported walking
from the Harris County Civil Courthouse in downtown Houston to
the nearby Family Law Center, Carl Shaw, assistant chief deputy
with the Harris County Precinct 1 Constable’s Office, said
during a news conference.
Deputies began chasing the man before ending up at the nearby
Family Law Center, where a shootout took place, Shaw said.
“He ran from us initially and then turned around and took a shot
at one of our officers and they, of course, returned fire,”
Harris County Precinct 1 Constable Alan Rosen said during a news
conference late Monday afternoon.
Sheila Jones, a deputy with the constable’s office, and the
suspect were shot and wounded, Rosen said.
Jones was wearing a bulletproof vest, which spared her from any
internal injuries, Rosen said.
The suspect, whose name was not being immediately released by
authorities, was carrying two handguns when he was shot, Rosen
said. He was being charged with one court of aggravated assault
of a peace officer, but more charges were expected against him.
The deputy, who was shot and injured on her left side, and
suspect were hospitalized and both were listed as stable Monday
afternoon. No other injuries were reported.
Five deputies were involved in the encounter with the suspect,
and investigators are trying to determine how many of them fired
their weapons, Rosen said. At least one building near the
shooting had a bullet go through one of its windows.
The injured deputy has been in law enforcement for 30 years and
previously worked for the Harris County Sheriff’s Office.
The shooting took place in an area in downtown Houston where the
criminal and civil courthouses are located as well as the Harris
County jury plaza, where potential jurors report for duty.
Thousands of people visit the various buildings each day to
attend court hearings or other legal proceedings.
“This is a very busy complex. … What the suspect had in mind, I
don’t know,” said Houston Police Chief Noe Diaz, whose agency
will lead the investigation into the shooting.
Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare credited Jones and
the other deputies with helping prevent bystanders who were at
the crowded courthouse complex area from being injured.
“Because of her, we don’t have a mass casualty event,” Teare
said.
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