December 8, 2021 - Charges have been filed against two suspects arrested in a shooting incident involving an off-duty law enforcement officer at 13500 Market Street about 10 p.m. on August 14.

The suspects, Antonio Esparza (H/m, 26) and Mark Douglas Reyes (H/m, 17), are charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.  Esparza is also charged with tampering/fabricating physical evidence in the 228th State District Court.  Reyes is charged in the 208th State District Court. 

Booking photos of Esparza and Reyes are attached to this news release.

The officer, employed by the University of Houston - Downtown (UHD), was not injured.

HPD Special Investigations Unit Sergeant P. Buttitta and Officers J. Moreno, B. Bertrand and C. Walker reported:

The off-duty UHD officer was driving on Uvalde Street when he stated he was cut off by the driver of a white Chevrolet Impala.  The officer tapped his horn at the vehicle and continued driving.  A short time later, the suspect driver of the Impala pulled alongside the officer's vehicle at the above address and an unknown Hispanic male passenger in the Impala fired shots at the officer's vehicle.  The officer returned fire and the suspects fled the scene.  

Further investigation led to the identification of Reyes and Esparza as the suspects in this case.  Reyes was taken into custody on Tuesday (Dec. 7).  On November 30, he was arrested for his role in this incident. 

As is customary when a law enforcement officer discharges a weapon in the city limits of Houston, the incident is being investigated by the HPD Special Investigations Unit.