Armed Robbery Suspect Wounded at 7102 Beechnut

April 6, 2009 - Charges are pending against a robbery suspect wounded by a Houston police sergeant at 7102 Beechnut about 1:50 a.m. today.

The identity of the male suspect, 27, is pending further investigation.  He was wounded one time in the buttocks and transported to Ben Taub General Hospital with non life-threatening injuries.  He faces charges of aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon.

The sergeant, K.E. Smith, of the Fondren Patrol Division, was not injured.  He was sworn in as an officer in January 1983.

HPD Homicide Division Officers D. Gunter and K. Lopez reported:

Patrol officers responded to a robbery in-progress call at the CVS Pharmacy on Beechnut near Fondren.  When they arrived, they saw a male suspect walking around inside the business with a pistol in his hand.  The suspect fled the store through a side door when he saw officers outside the front entrance.  Sergeant Smith saw the suspect running from the store with a gun in his hand and instructed the suspect to drop the weapon several times.  The suspect refused to drop the gun and continued running.  The sergeant, fearing for his safety and the safety of the public, discharged his duty weapon and struck the suspect one time.

As is customary in HPD officer-involved shootings in the city limits, the incident is being investigated by the HPD Homicide and Internal Affairs Divisions and the Harris County District Attorney’s Office.

JFC/JC
Inc #04885950

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