September 24, 2012 - Houston police are investigting an incident in which a HPD officer discharged her duty weapon at 2002 Dowling about 10:50 p.m. on Saturday (Sept. 22).

The suspect, described only as a black male, fled the scene on foot.  He remains at large.

HPD Officer P. Briscoe, who discharged her duty weapon, was not injured in this incident.  Officer Briscoe was sworn in as an officer in May 1997 and is assigned to the South Central Patrol Division.

HPD Homicide Division Senior Police Officers S. Straughter and T. Tyler reported:

A male suspect ran outside of a convenience store at the above address without paying for a carton of beer.  The clerk flagged down Officer Briscoe and her partner, told them the store had just been robbed and pointed to the vehicle in which the suspect was sitting and was about to drive away.

The two officers attempted to detain both the driver and the suspect.  The driver complied with the officer's verbal commands, while the suspect, seated in the rear of the vehicle, did not.  The suspect then made a quick move toward the officers.  Believing the suspect to be armed with a weapon just used in a robbery and fearing for her safety, Officer Briscoe discharged her duty weapon one time.

The suspect then fled the scene.  It unknown if he was struck by the gunfire and his identity remains unknown.

Anyone with information about the suspect or his whereabouts is urged to contact the HPD Homicide Division at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.

As is customary in HPD officer-involved shootings in the city limits, this case is being investigated by the HPD Homicide and Internal Affairs Divisions.



KJS/VHS  9-24-12
Inc. #121020512