Man in custody after officer-involved shootout, hours-long SWAT standoff

HOUSTON – Police and SWAT negotiators were at a home in northeast Houston where a suspect was barricaded inside Wednesday night, according to the Houston Police Department.

Officials responded at 8:32 p.m. to the 1400 block of Lockwood Drive to reports of a suspicious person who might be armed.

According to Houston police Chief Art Acevedo, a patrol unit searched the area and saw a black man who fired shots at them. The two officers returned fire and the man fled, Acevedo said.

Police believe the man barricaded himself in a home on the 2200 block of Lockwood Drive. HPD SWAT negotiators were attempting to make contact with the suspect as of about 10:20 p.m.

Just before 1 a.m., Acevedo said the SWAT team was able to make entry into the home and take the man into custody without incident.

The man was shot in the hand and was transported to a hospital to be treated, police said.

Authorities said the man has a lengthy criminal history, but his identity will not be released until police are able to identify his family.

Investigators are working to determine why the man opened fire on the officers. He is expected to be charged with aggravated assault against a police officer, authorities said.

Police said the man has a felony warrant out for his arrest for an unknown charge.

One of the officers involved in the shooting has been on the job for about 3 months and the other has been with HPD for just over a year, Acevedo said.

Both officers will be on paid administrative leave for a few days as the HPD Special Investigations Unit and the Harris County District Attorney’s Office conduct an investigation into the incident. Both officers will also be drug tested, Acevedo said.

Neither of the officers were injured in the gunfire.


About the Authors:

Daniela Sternitzky-Di Napoli has been a digital news editor at KPRC 2 since 2018. She is a published poet and has background in creative writing and journalism. Daniela has covered events like Hurricane Harvey and the Astros World Series win. In her spare time, Daniela is an avid reader and loves to spend time with her two miniature dachshunds.