HOUSTON – Both the hostage and the gunman are in custody after an hours-long standoff in west Houston ended Friday evening, Houston police said.
At about 12:30 p.m. patrol officers conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle “based on non-moving violations,” HPD said.
Officers said the vehicle did not immediately pull over and instead slow-rolled before coming to a stop in the 4000 block of Belle Park Drive. When officers approached the vehicle they heard what sounded like a round being chambered in a semi-automatic weapon. The officers observed that the driver appeared fearful for his life. At that point, officers sought cover.
HPD media briefing on conclusion of SWAT scene at 4000 Belle Park Drive in which an armed passenger held the driver at gunpoint following a traffic stop. #hounews https://t.co/yntKg2W71C
— Houston Police (@houstonpolice) October 15, 2021
The Houston Police Department’s Tactical Operations Division responded to the scene and cordoned off the area around the vehicle. A hostage negotiation team worked for several hours to convince the armed passenger to release the driver. Eventually, the gunman finally permitted the driver to exit the vehicle, Division Commander Meghan Howard said. The gunman exited the vehicle shortly after the driver.
Police took both the gunman and the driver into custody -- The driver had an open felony warrant for assaulting a family member while the armed passenger has an open parole warrant, Howard said.
Investigators found both a pistol and rifle in the vehicle -- Both belonged to the passenger, Howard said.