A Houston Police officer was shot and injured this weekend while responding to a call about a stolen car. Police say officers spotted a car that had been stolen in a carjacking Saturday and started following it.
Police had their lights and sirens off, but Chief Troy Finner says the driver noticed officers "and decided to flee." Finner says the driver wrecked near 610 and U.S. 59.
"There was a violent crash, he crashed into several vehicles," Finner says. "He got out of the vehicle, officers got out. He engaged and shot one of our officers."
Finner says the officer was shot in the leg and should recover. During the exchange, Finner says the person tried to carjack two others to try to escape.
He says at least three other officers returned fire. The suspect died at the hospital.
Finner says several bystanders pulled the officer to safety after he was hit.
"Tough day, but what I celebrate is our citizens, our police officers," he says. "There's one citizen out there who has had some trouble with law enforcement in his life, but today he and a few other citizens along with our officers, when that officer went down, they pulled him to safety, and I want to celebrate that."
Finner says Houston Police will plan an event to formally celebrate those people who helped. He says the officer who was shot is expected to fully recover. Finner says the officer is 29 years old and married with a 20-month old child. He says the mayor has spoken with the officer's parents and wife.
"People don't understand what our officers go through day in and day out," he says. "I, as chief, am extremely proud of what they do every day, and their families go through a lot."
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