2 officers shot in southwest Houston

[dhoobler]

http://www.click2houston.com/news/2-off ... st-houston

[dlh]

When I lived in southwest Houston back in the late sixties the southwest part of town was a relatively safe and quiet place. Sadly, times have changed.

[dhoobler]

Police Chief Art Arcevedo just tweeted "On way to Herman". I presume that one or both of his officers were transported to Herman Hospital.

[Skiprr]

Mayor being interviewed. Officer Cortez (Cortes?) is in critical condition (shot in stomach and back; at Memorial Hermann); officer Munoz injured less severely (shot in leg; at Ben Taub). It is believed that there are three burglary suspects in SW Houston; one dead on the scene, two (believed) not yet apprehended.

The officers need our prayers.

http://abc13.com/news/reports-of-shots- ... 9/1777497/

[Skiprr]

When I lived in southwest Houston back in the late sixties the southwest part of town was a relatively safe and quiet place. Sadly, times have changed.

Heard that. In the late '60s and early '70s, the southwest area around Sharpstown was the place to be. No longer. I don't even like having to drive through the area.

[Skiprr]

Shelter-in-place issued until further notice for:

• South of Bellfort Avenue
• West of Gessner Drive
• North of W Airport Blvd
• East of Beltway 8/Sam Houston Tollway

Police search efforts centered near this location, shown in Google Maps.

[Skiprr]

Chief Acevedo addressing the press. Shelter-in-place still active. They are looking for one Hispanic male dressed in all black clothing with a blue bandana; believed to be armed and dangerous. A burglary was reported at 11:08; while some officers were in route, uniformed officers in the neighborhood were flagged down with report of a second burglary. One suspect dead at scene, shot after confronting officers in a residential backyard; suspect was hiding in a shed. Suspect fired multiple shots at officers before being killed. This was the gunfire exchange that injured the officers.

Ronny Cortez, the officer in critical condition, is a 24-year veteran of HPD, and lives in the neighborhood where the incident occurred; but he was in uniform and on duty. Officer Jose Munoz is a 10-year veteran; his GSW is evidently to the foot, not the leg as earlier reported. Officer Cortez's condition has improved somewhat since he was admitted to Memorial Hermann, but he is still listed in critical condition.

Acevedo says joint effort with HPD and Harris County Sheriff's department will not leave neighborhood until the at-large suspect is apprehended. He apologized to the residents of the area for the inconvenience, but police will continue searching the area within the "dragnet" for as long as it takes.

Gross Elementary School, Valley West Elementary School, and Welch Middle School on lockdown.

[puma guy]

Prayers for these officers and their families, with a special prayer for Officer Cortez.

[Skiprr]

Chief Acevedo, speaking in front of the Ben Taub emergency entrance, says that Officer Jose Munoz is doing well, and may be released from the hospital tomorrow. He had no new update on Officer Ronny Cortez's condition.

Helicopter video shows literally scores of carbine-armed officers and K9s going door-to-door and backyard-to-backyard in the neighborhood. Dozens of cruisers onsite and streets are blocked off. And you know the boots on the ground, with two of their brothers shot, are highly motivated to find the guy at large.

CSU is processing the location where the officers were shot. From a glance at the number of casing markers in the yard, I'd hazard at least a dozen rounds--probably double that--were fired. Leads me also to believe that the shooter used a semi-auto.

[Skiprr]

The police search has been called off; officers moving back to normal service. No word why, but it's entirely possible the suspect has been peacefully apprehended.

ETA: Conflicting message. A SWAT officer just told a reporter that the search had not been called off; only that some officers had been relieved.

Aerial shots indicate the search zone has been expanded beyond the original neighborhood borders. This may be one reason for the confusion: officers may have been mobilized to a broader area.

[Skiprr]

Chief Acevedo again: says second suspect has not been found, but that lockdown and shelter-in-place of the neighborhood is being lifted. He did say at one point "if there is a second suspect," but he indicated the assumption is that there is another suspect. Three homes were burglarized.

I don't know what to make of it; he was noticeably noncommittal about whether HPD, at this point, believes there is or is not a second suspect. Houston ISD releasing students from the schools that were on lockdown.

[ninjabread]

Helicopter video shows literally scores of carbine-armed officers and K9s going door-to-door and backyard-to-backyard in the neighborhood. Dozens of cruisers onsite and streets are blocked off. And you know the boots on the ground, with two of their brothers shot, are highly motivated to find the guy at large.

I hope they find him. I hope they find these guys too. viewtopic.php?f=108&t=88064

[Take Down Sicko]

I lived a block away on Fondren from the Sharptown mall in 1972. Back then it was a very nice area to live in. The mall was a lively place with Good Time Charlies upstairs in the food court and a pipe organ i never saw anyone play...your taking your life in your own hands if you go around that area now.

[Take Down Sicko]

Prayers for both Officers and their families and all the HPD. It must be brutal to have to deal with hardened criminals all the time.

[dhoobler]

The evening before the two officers were shot, the following took place less than two miles away:

Mom killed in front of 2 kids after carjacking in Houston
http://www.kare11.com/news/crime/mom-ki ... /416073350

That part of south-west Houston is going down hill fast.