The shooting happened at about 7:39 p.m. in northeast Harris County. Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said the deputy was in the 13500 block of Homestead conducting a traffic stop, but within minutes, dispatchers received reports that an officer was down.
EMS arrived at the scene in minutes and began performing life-saving measures on the deputy until Life Flight arrived, and he was taken to Memorial Hermann Hospital.
The deputy suffered two bullet wounds to his upper torso and was taken into surgery. He is in critical condition but stable, the sheriff said.
WATCH: Sheriff asks for prayers as deputy treated for gunshots
Harris Co. deputy shot during traffic stop on the job just 15 months
While the deputy's name was not immediately released, Gonzalez said he's 29 and has been with the department for 15 months.
Authorities said the suspected shooter, who was also the driver, fled the scene but issued the following description of him: a Black man with short hair, wearing a gray shirt and black shorts. He was said to be driving a 2016 blue-colored Ford Escape with black tint and Texas license plate SVJ6590.
In addition, sources told ABC13 one other person was inside the vehicle sitting in the front passenger seat.
With a manhunt underway to find the suspect or suspects, Gonzalez is asking for prayers for the wounded deputy.
A previous version of this story stated the vehicle was a Ford Explorer, but authorities later said it was an Escape.