Crime Stoppers increase reward to $20K; new surveillance released in deputy constable ambush

HOUSTON – The Precinct 7 deputy constable, who was shot multiple times during a traffic stop in April, was released from the Hermann Red Duke Trauma Institute Thursday night, hospital officials said.

Crime Stoppers and the Houston Police Department's Homicide Division held a press conference Tuesday to ask for the public's help in finding the person responsible for the ambush against Deputy Constable Alden Clopton.

Though Clopton was not in attendance, police released new surveillance video of the suspected gunman and announced an increased reward for information leading to the charging and or arrest of the shooter.

Surveillance cameras captured an unknown person carrying a rifle, running north along a bike trail past Holman Street near where Clopton was shot.

Clopton was shot several times April 13 while on patrol that night in the Third Ward.

According to Pamela Greenwood, a spokesperson for the Harris County Precinct 7 Constable's Office, Clopton parked his patrol vehicle at the Alabama Store Market on Alabama and Briley around midnight after a traffic stop. He was leaning into the vehicle through the opened passenger's side window talking to reserve deputy trainee Anne Glasco when an unknown person approached from behind and shot him, Greenwood said. Glasco got out of the car and shot back. The gunman ran off and is still on the loose.

"Fearing for her safety and that of her partner who had been shot, she returned fire," said, Kese Smith with the Houston Police Department.

A neighbor was inside her home and just a few feet from from the bullets.

“The TV was on but we heard six shots real quick and then a louder return shot,” the neighbor, who asked not to be identified, said.

Walker said Glasco felt bad that she was not able to catch the man. She was not hurt in the shooting and is doing well, Walker said.

[PHOTOS OF CLOPTON, INVESTIGATION SCENE]

According to Walker, the shooter fired six shots. Despite having on a bulletproof vest, four bullets hit Clopton in the back and side. 

"Yes, he had his bulletproof vest, and I think that was part of what helped save his life," she said. 

One shot was fired toward the ground and another bullet was found inside the patrol car, Walker said.

No one else was injured.

Clopton, a field training officer, comes from a family of law enforcement officials and has been with Precinct 7 for 11 years, Lt. Holland Jones said in a press conference Thursday. His wife is a deputy with the Harris County Sheriff's Office, and they have five children.

Clopton has three brothers with law enforcement backgrounds: One brother works at Precinct 7 with Alden Clopton; another is an officer with the Houston Police Department; and a third brother is a former Harris County homicide investigator.

Residents in the area said they heard the gunshots.

"I stayed inside because I don't want to go out because it's getting dangerous and dangerous every night," nearby resident Theodore Cross said.

Another resident, Darrone Gray, said, "There's gunshots every night over here. It's that kind of neighborhood around here. It's a bad neighborhood."

"Immediately my heart dropped. I mean, you think things happen. But you are just not in a position to feel like it would be that close to you," Clopton's neighbor Shavara Lyons said. "My heart dropped and I started praying immediately. My heart is dropping. I'm praying and I'm just immediately thinking the best, that everything is going to work out and everything is going to be fine and his family is going to be taken care of at this time and just ask God to give him strength."

Houston police are investigating the motive for the attack.

Many viewers took to social media offering Clopton prayers and well wishes.