Houston Police Department

July 6, 2005 -- Charges are pending against two aggravated robbery suspects wounded by Houston police officers at 9305 Ronda Lane about 12:30 a.m. today (July 6).

The male suspects were transported to Ben Taub General Hospital where doctors said they were expected to survive their injuries. The males refused to provide their names to hospital staff and investigators are trying to learn their identities.

HPD Homicide Division Sergeant C.W. Howard and Officer P.T. Yochum reported:

Three men and a woman were at their business when two black male suspects approached the men in the driveway of the business. The suspects, each wearing a ski mask and armed with a gun, ordered the men to lie on the ground and demanded money, jewelry and narcotics. The male victims handed their wallets and jewelry to the suspects. One suspect began searching the residence for valuables. The female victim managed to call 911 and officers from the Fondren Patrol Division responded to the robbery in-progress call. The female ran outside to meet the officers and then ran back inside to show officers where the suspects were holding her husband and the two other male victims.

Three officers entered the business in an effort to stop the woman from going inside. Two other officers went to the rear of the business and waited outside for the suspects. Shortly after, the officers in the business were confronted by the two suspects in a narrow hallway. One suspect fired a shot at the officers as they were trapped in the hallway. The suspects then fled through the back door of the business where the remaining two officers were waiting. The officers gave verbal commands to the suspects to drop their weapons. When the suspects refused and pointed the weapons in the direction of the officers, the two officers and a third officer fired multiple shots, wounding the suspects. None of the five HPD officers at the scene was injured.

Three officers - T.A. Adams, J.L. Scales and K.L. Raven - discharged their weapons at the suspects. Adams was sworn in as an HPD officer in September 1995, Raven in December 2001 and Scales in April 2002.

As is customary, the incident is being investigated by the HPD Homicide and Internal Affairs Divisions and the Harris County District Attorney's office.

JFC/RMM 7-6-05
Inc #103365905

For additional information, please contact the HPD Public Affairs Division at 713-308-3200.