Police: HPD officer shot in leg in Third Ward

HOUSTON -- Police are searching for the suspect who shot an HPD officer in Third Ward.

Police say the shooting happened around 3:15pm as officers served a narcotics warrant in the 3100 block of Anita.

"They'd taken two individuals into custody. The police officers at the scene heard a sound which they identified as a gunshot, and Officer Fragie later determined and it was discovered that he had been shot one time in the rear right leg," Houston Police Chief Charles McClelland said.

McClelland says Officer Kenneth Fregia was shot somewhere between the upper hamstring and lower hamstring. He was transported to Memorial Hermann Texas Trauma Institute and later released. McClelland says Officer Fregia still has a bullet fragment lodged in his leg and doctors will determine later whether he'll need additional surgery to remove it.

McClelland says neither of the suspects who were arrested appear to be involved in the shooting.

"We're still investigating. I wouldn't characterize it as a sniper-type situation until the investigation is finished," added HPD Capt. Heather Morris.

The search for the gunman, and more answers, is ongoing.

"We don't know. We don't know. We know that Officer Fregia was hit by gunfire while he was standing, conversing with a group of police officers who were on the scene getting ready to leave," McClelland said. "It is certainly still an active scene. We're still processing all of the evidence, and we're still talking to witnesses that could help us resolve this case and find out how this happened, why it happened and who's responsible for this."

Officer Fregia, 45, is a seven-year veteran of the Houston Police Department.

On Wednesday afternoon, the Houston Police Officer Union's took to Twitter to react to the shooting:

"Please keep our officers in your prayers as we had an officer shot today. Shocking reminder of the very dangers we face day in and day out."

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