HOUSTON – Houston police are investigating after an officer shot a teenager in north Houston Friday morning.
The shooting happened at around 5 a.m. in a parking lot at 16200 Imperial Valley, but the events leading up to the shooting started about 15 minutes earlier at a food market in the 100 block of Aldine Bender.
Police say three men broke into the back warehouse of a food market.
"They were able to pry open the doors using whatever equipment was outside," said Operations Manager Emmanuel Flores.
The thieves didn't come face to face with any employees, but they managed to steal a few standard items like charcoal, food and beer.
Police arrived on scene as the three men were escaping. About 15 minutes later a police officer spotted one of the suspects in the parking lot on Imperial Valley.
"The officer initially tells him to get on the ground and show his hands and the suspect refuses to get on the ground," said HPD spokesperson John Cannon.
Cannon said next the officer called for help on his radio.
"As he's reaching for his radio, that's when the suspect drops his hand down toward his waist and he's wearing bulky clothing," Cannon said. "Fearing for his safety at that time the officer discharges his weapon one time."
The gunshot hit 19-year-old Omar Campos in the thigh. He was taken to the Houston Northwest Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries. Campos was later released from the hospital and taken to jail. Houston police say charges of burglary and evading arrest are pending against him.
The officer, a six-year veteran of the force, was not injured.
Houston police said a weapon was not located on Campos at the time.
The two other males who broke into the food market are still on the loose and Flores has some advice on how they could have avoided the situation all together.
"If they're really in need, we're family-owned, so if they can just come in and communicate to us, we're more than happy to help the community," Flores said.
The officer will be on administrative desk duty for three days, which is standard protocol when there is an officer-involved shooting.
Investigators are asking for anyone with information on three other felony suspects wanted in the burglary to contact the HPD Burglary and Theft Division at 713-308-0900 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS (8477).