A hospital on Monday announced that it released one of the five Houston police officers injured earlier while serving a search warrant at a home of suspected drug dealers.
Two suspects were shot and killed in the exchange with police.
Houston police tweeted that the fifth officer was released Monday night after being treated for a gunshot wound to the shoulder.
Two officers remain in critical condition at Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center in Houston with gunshot wounds to the neck. Two other officers remain hospitalized in good condition. One of the officers suffered a knee injury and is one of those hospitalized in good condition, Houston police tweeted.
UPDATE on our officers: one officer shot in the shoulder has been released. 2 officers in critical condition & 2 others are in good condition. None of them will be released from the hospital tonite. One of the officers sustained a knee injury & isn’t believed to have been shot.
— Houston Police (@houstonpolice) January 29, 2019
The officer with the knee injury is one of those hospitalized in good condition.
— Houston Police (@houstonpolice) January 29, 2019
At about 4:15 p.m. local time, a group of about a dozen officers with the Houston Police’s narcotics unit responded to a residence they suspected was a hub for drug dealing, particularly the sale of “street-level narcotics” like “black tar heroin,” Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo said at an evening news conference held outside the hospital. The two suspects had opened fire on the team of officers.
“Narcotics officers tried to serve a search warrant,” Acevedo said. “They announced themselves as police at the time. Immediately upon reaching the door, the officers came under fire from one or two suspects.” One suspect, according to the police chief, momentarily retreated into the home and then returned to the front of the location to resume shooting.
“As a result of the exchange of gunfire,” both suspects were shot by police and reported dead on the scene, Acevedo reported.
The names of the undercover officers were not released but they range in age from 33 to 54, with the oldest having been shot several times previously, according to Acevedo.
Details of the incident followed a series of tweets from the police department notifying the public of the situation.
“HPD responding to a scene at 7800 Harding where officers have been struck with gunfire following an encounter with a suspect,” Houston police tweeted around 6:15 p.m. ET. “Officers are en route to the hospital. Please avoid the area and yield for emergency vehicles. Further updates will be provided as available.”
HPD responding to a scene at 7800 Harding where officers have been struck with gunfire following an encounter with a suspect. Officers are en route to the hospital. Please avoid the area and yield for emergency vehicles. Further updates will be provided as available. #hounews
— Houston Police (@houstonpolice) January 28, 2019
“This evening’s horrific attack on police officers is a solemn reminder of the service and sacrifice our brave men and women in law enforcement make every day to keep us safe,” Governor Greg Abbott said in a statement following news of the shooting.
“The city of Houston and the Houston Police Department will have whatever state resources they need to bring swift justice to those involved. I ask all Texans to join Cecilia and me in praying for the officers injured, and for the continued safety of all law enforcement officers who protect our communities.”
“This has been a tough day for our city,” Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said at the Monday night news conference. “We want to work night and day to make sure our city remains safe. I’m just very grateful and thankful for everyone who has come together in this moment.”
A follow-up news conference was scheduled for 11 a.m. ET Tuesday morning, Acevedo said.
