Authorities said two sheriff deputies were shot and injured Tuesday night in Katy, Texas, by a suspect who was out on bond for an aggravated assault of a family member two years ago.
According to authorities, the deputies responded to the scene around 8 p.m. for reports of shots being fired from inside a home. Once the deputies arrived, the unidentified 43-year-old suspect shot at the deputies who returned fire. Both deputies were hit in the leg while one was grazed by a bullet in the head and left ear. The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene.
Both officers were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.
Authorities were advised that the alleged shooter had paranoid schizophrenia but cautioned it was preliminary information and not 100 percent confirmed, Harris County Chief Deputy Edison Toquica said during a news conference Tuesday night, according to the Associated Press.
“They approached the residence as they were trained to. They were basically ambushed. They did what they were trained to do,” Toquica said, per KHOU. “They discharged their weapons and hit the suspect. They did what they were supposed to do and they’re alive because of that.”
Toquica said a relative of the suspect, believed to be a brother, placed the call to the police.
The suspect had been firing a weapon, possibly throughout the day, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez added in a press conference.
The suspect was reportedly out on PR bond for aggravated assault of a family member in 2020. “We’ve seen far too much of this,” said Gonzalez, per CNN, “… and it’s concerning to everyone, including us, that somebody with that type of charge could be out.”
“As we’ve said for a long time, we should consider risk when making these very important decisions that are putting others, including law enforcement, in harm’s way,” Gonzalez said.
The identities of the officers have not been released but were reported to be 27 and 28 years old. One of the officers had been on the job for one year and the other for two years.
Gonzalez said both officers are in “fair condition” but “they’re serious wounds nonetheless and may require some extensive recovery time.”
Toquica said it’s “gut-wrenching” upon receiving a call about officers getting shot. He added that law enforcement is a part of the community and “this is a time that we have to stand shoulder to shoulder and work together towards curbing the violent crime that we’re seeing.”
The investigation is still underway and police are uncertain how the suspect obtained a gun after being out on bail.
Newsweek reached out to Harris County Sheriff’s Office for comment but they did not respond by publication.
Updated 2/16/22, 10:39 AM: This story has been updated with additional information.
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