A man with a rifle shot three police officers from Texas Behind their backs at a bar while investigating a riot early Saturday, one of them was killed, authorities said.
Houston police assistant chief James Jones told reporters that one person has been taken into custody, although authorities do not yet know if that person is a suspect or a witness.
“We believe they were ambushed, shot in the back… with a rifle,” Jones said.
Jones said the shooting occurred at about 2:15 a.m., after “Harris County 4 officers came out to deal with the disturbances.”
“It could have been during a burglary they were interfering with…maybe unknown to them,” Jones said.
“They were trying to arrest a suspect when they were ambushed,” Jones said.
Police Officer Mark Hermann of District 4 said officers were taken to hospital and one of them died. Their names have not been revealed yet.
Among the surviving officers, one was hit in the back and was undergoing surgery Saturday morning, and the other was injured in the foot and was preparing to undergo surgery, Hermann said early Saturday.
“This is a difficult time for the police station. I am asking for prayer and positive thoughts from our community for our families,” Hermann said.
Investigators believe the shooter was a man in his early 20s, according to Jones. “We hope there will be a suspect in custody soon,” Hermann said.
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