Man suspected of stealing beer, assaulting clerk shot in back during fight with HPD officer

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- The Houston Police Department says their officer shot a man in the back while fighting for his life on Sunday in northeast Houston.

Executive Assistant Chief Ben Tien said the officer responded to a robbery at the Family Dollar near Liberty Road in the Fifth Ward around 2:30 p.m.

Tien said a man was accused of stealing beer from the store and allegedly assaulting a store clerk. He said he needed to learn more before he could share details on the alleged assault.

Two units were called to the scene. Tien said a second officer was sent as backup, noticed who he believed to be the suspect walking on Brewster Street, and approached him solo.

Neighbors, including 15-year-old Crishaud Fennix, told ABC13 the man had beer in his hands.

Fennix said the officer got behind the man and told him to stop, but he didn't.

Tien said the man ran to a field about a half block away where he and the officer fought.

The 15-year-old said the man briefly got away from the officer, but then the officer jumped on his back, and that was when they fell again on the ground.

"He said, 'Let go of my Taser!' before he put the gun up to the man's back who was trying to get up and run away," the teen said. "He was trying to go, and then the officer had the gun in his hand, and he shot once."

In a cellphone video of the shooting's aftermath shared with ABC13, neighbors can be heard stating that the suspect was "whooping the officer." They also said he was reaching for the officer's gun and Taser and that the officer shot him in the back.

Officials said the suspect was taken to Ben Taub and was undergoing surgery Sunday evening.

He said the officer was also transported to the hospital out of caution. The officer sustained minor cuts and bruises but is expected to be OK.

Tien said the officer is in his twenties and has been a part of the department for two years.

The suspect was described as a Black man in his 30s, who is believed to be homeless and has a felony theft warrant, according to officials.