Houston Police Department

May 5, 2007 - Charges are pending against a suspect who was wounded by an off-duty Houston Police Officer following an aggravated robbery at a restaurant in the 13200 block of Jones Road about 9:45 p.m. on Thursday (May 3).

The suspect, whose identity is being withheld pending the filing of charges, was transported to Ben Taub General Hospital with gunshot wounds to the buttocks and shoulder area.

HPD Homicide Division Sergeant M.D. Newcomb and Officer A. Mares reported:

Officer Gilbert Reyes, a 28-year veteran of the police department assigned to the Tactical Operations Division, was dining with his family while off-duty. As Officer Reyes left the restaurant and drove through the parking lot towards Jones Road, he observed a large number of people running out of the McDonalds restaurant located in the same parking lot. A McDonalds employee told Officer Reyes a robbery was occurring inside. Officer Reyes then observed the suspect exiting the restaurant dressed in all black.

Officer Reyes noticed that the suspect had a gun in his hand as he ran across the parking lot and walked southbound on Jones Road. The suspect ran behind a building located on the south side of the parking lot. Officer Reyes drove his vehicle south on Jones Road to the rear of the building and placed his headlights on the wooded area where he thought the suspect fled. As Officer Reyes attempted to call for additional units, the suspect pointed his gun at Officer Reyes and yelled, “STOP!” in an attempt to take Officer Reyes’ vehicle.

Officer Reyes opened his vehicle door and fired his duty weapon at the suspect. The wounded suspect ran into the wooded area and a short time later summoned medical personnel to his residence at 11111 Sathcoff #702.

The suspect was transported to Ben Taub General Hospital in stable condition. A search of the wooded area where the suspect fled, revealed evidence discarded by the suspect.

The Harris County Sheriff’s Department is the lead agency investigating this incident. As is customary in all officer-involved shootings, this case is also being investigated by the HPD Homicide and Internal Affairs Divisions and the Civil Rights Unit of the Harris County District Attorney’s office.

JGA/GO/NJM 5-4-07
Inc#064609707

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