Officer injured by friendly fire at end of police chase in SW Houston

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Authorities say an officer who was shot at the end of a police chase in southwest Houston was injured by a bullet fired by his partner.

According to HPD, it began as a traffic stop. The suspect reportedly took off and that led to a brief chase, where, at one point, he was going against traffic on the feeder road of Beltway 8. The chase ended at West Bellfort, and that's where an officer fired his weapon.

Police say Eric Garza, a 12-year veteran officer of the Houston Police Department, heard the gunshots and ran to assist but got caught in the gunfire. He was shot in the arm.

Garza was taken by ground to Memorial Hermann Texas Trauma Institute, but he appears to be doing well. His family is by his side.

"He's in good spirits," HPD executive assistant chief Martha Montalvo said. "He was also wearing his vest and so that assisted."

The suspect also was shot, grazed in the back by a bullet, but he's also expected to survive.

Authorities have not yet said why the officer opened fire. The investigation is ongoing.