June 25, 2021 - Houston police are investigating an incident in which an HPD officer discharged his duty weapon at a suspect(s) who fired shots at the officer at 14400 Minetta Street about 1:30 a.m. today.  

The suspect(s) has not been apprehended.

Officer B. Taveras, who discharged his duty weapon, was not injured in the incident.  Officer Taveras was sworn in as an officer in December 2018 and is assigned to the South Gessner Patrol Division.  

HPD Special Investigations Unit Sergeant J. Hekimian and Detectives N. Arellano, B. Elliot and V. Nguyen reported:  

Officer Taveras was driving slowly in his patrol vehicle near the above address when multiple shots were fired and his patrol vehicle was struck. Photos of the patrol vehicle are attached to this news release. 

The officer then observed several suspects in a nearby park.  One of the suspects was armed with a pistol and pointed in the officer's direction.  Fearing for his life, Officer Taveras exited his vehicle and returned fire at the suspects.  At this time, it has not been determined if a suspect was struck.  The suspects then fled the scene in an unknown direction.  

As is customary in HPD officer-involved shooting incidents in the Houston city limits, this case is being
investigated by the HPD Special Investigations Unit and the Internal Affairs Division.

Anyone with information on the identities of the suspects in this case is urged to contact the HPD Special Investigations Unit at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.