January 28, 2021 - Charges have been filed against a suspect in the fatal shooting of a male and the shooting of the suspect by an HPD officer in an incident that occurred at 100 East 44th Street about 2:20 p.m. on Monday (January 26).

The identity of the male victim is pending notification to family members by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences.

The suspect, Andra Foster (b/m, 43) is charged with aggravated assault against a police officer in the 177th State District Court.  Foster was transported to an area hospital in stable condition. A booking photo of Foster is not available at this time, as he remains hospitalized.  

HPD Officer R. Kloeppel, who discharged his duty weapon, was not injured in this incident.  Officer Kloeppel is assigned to the North Patrol Division and was sworn in as an officer in January 2017.

HPD Special Investigations Unit Sergeant M.  Ynosencio and Detectives B. Bertrand, E. Contreras, V. Praxedes and N. Arellano reported: 

Officers responded to a shooting at 8502 North Main and upon arrival found the victim had been shot.  Another responding officer was waved down by bystanders and advised that the suspect that shot the victim (Foster) was walking with a gun toward East 44th.  The victim was transported by Houston Fire Department paramedics to Greater Heights Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced deceased. 

Officer Kloeppel was directed to a house near the 100 block of East 44th where he located a male fitting the suspect’s description in the front yard holding a gun. Officer Kloeppel gave verbal commands to Foster, who pointed the gun toward the officer. Fearing for his life, Officer Kloeppel fired several shots toward Foster, striking him.  Foster then ran behind the house. 

Additional officers arrived and went behind a neighboring house, giving Foster verbal commands to drop his weapon. Foster raised his weapon toward a second officer while behind the house, and then walked back toward the front of the house and fired a shot toward the front. Officer Kloeppel gave the suspect commands to drop his weapon and Foster again raised his weapon toward Officer Kloeppel.  Again fearing for his life, Officer Kloeppel fired at Foster, striking him.  Foster was then taken into custody and officers rendered first aid until  HFD paramedics arrived and transported the him to an area hospital in stable condition.    

As is customary in HPD officer-involved shooting incidents in the city limits, this case is being investigated by the HPD Special Investigations Unit, the Internal Affairs Division and the Harris County District Attorney's Office.  





JKS/VHS 1-28-21
Inc. #011552521