Carjacking suspect opens fire on officer during chase in SW Houston

HOUSTON – A Houston Police officer is safe after a carjacking suspect opened fire during a chase in southwest Houston, police said.

Two people were arrested and are facing multiple charges.

Recommended Videos



David Elias, 21, and Lawrence Benjamin Gordon, 20, were taken into custody. Elias is charged with aggravated assault against a public servant and aggravated robbery. Gordon is charged with aggravated robbery, felony evading arrest and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.

Authorities said a man and a woman were at a park at 3 a.m. in the 11100 block of Windmark Drive when two men approached them and stole their vehicle at gunpoint.

Police spotted the car and attempted to stop the driver. The driver refused to stop and led police on a chase to a Shell Gas Station at the intersection of Hwy 6 and Beechnut street.

During the chase, the passenger shot at the police officer, striking the driver's side window, police said.

Executive Assistant Chief Troy Finner said the officer, a 19-year veteran, was not hit and did not return fire. The officer sustained only minor injuries, possibly from the shattered glass in the vehicle.

Finner said under the direction of Chief Art Acevedo, a crime suppression unit working an overnight shift were instrumental in the arrest of the suspects.

"I'm proud of the way these officers responded. They were able to take the dangerous suspect in custody, who knew these were police officers and who could see clearly officers were following him for at least a half-mile and still decided to shoot at police officers." Chief Finner said. "These types of individuals are dangerous and if they will shoot at police officers they will shoot at anybody." 

Photos of the suspects are not being released at this time due to ongoing investigations and meetings with other potential robbery victims.

Finner said the Houston Robbery division will investigate if the two men are linked to a serial robbery case.

 

Download the Click2Houston news app in your app store to stay up-to-date with the latest news while you're on the go.

Sign up for KPRC 2 newsletters to get breaking news, sports, entertainment, contests and more delivered straight to your email inbox.