HOUSTON – A deputy-involved chase ended with gunfire in southeast Houston Friday and the discovery of a teenage girl in the vehicle.
The chase started in Deer Park around 3:30 a.m. when the driver of a BMW SUV refused to pull over in a traffic stop, investigators said.
Harris County Precinct 7 officials said the driver, William Evangelane Akin, started firing shots at officers through his window during the chase.
"The suspect, traveling at a high rate of speed, apparently started shooting at a vehicle," said Pamela Greenwood with Precinct 7.
"This suspect had been pointing a rifle or some kind of a long gun out of his window at the pursuing officer," said Kese Smith with the Houston Police Department.
When a deputy got out of his car, possibly to lay down a spike strip to stop Akin, he veered toward the deputy, officials said.
"The suspect swerved into the lane the officer was standing in and then, seconds later, swerved away," said Smith.
Officials said the deputy, in fear of his life, fired back at Akin, hitting the suspect's SUV. Akin then crashed his vehicle at the intersection of Blackhawk Boulevard and Sageorchard Lane, where the chase ended.
"The suspect got out and tried to flee on foot for a very short distance before being taken into custody," Smith said.
Deputies recovered a 12-gauge shotgun in the 10800 block of Beamer that they believe Akin threw out of the window.
Emergency officials transported Akin to an area hospital with injuries. Akin is expected to recover.
Deputies said a 13- or 14-year-old girl was also in the car during the chase and they took her in for questioning. They did not release details about her relationship to the driver. She was not injured.
"She is a witness to this whole incident," Smith said.
Akin has been charged with driving while intoxicated with a child onboard, evading arrest and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Akin's criminal record goes back to 2000 and includes armed robbery and drug possession charges.