Off-duty officer discharges weapon during PlazAmericas robbery

SHARPSTOWN, TX (KTRK) -- An off-duty HPD officer interrupted a robbery at PlazAmerica, exchanging gunfire with suspects as they robbed a jewelry store, a Houston Police Department spokesperson confirms.

Neither the suspects nor the officer were struck by gunfire during the altercation.

Officer I. Almasri was working an off-duty job as a security guard, making the rounds in full uniform after 5pm when he spotted two men run into the mall with bandannas covering their faces.

Armed with a hammer and a pistol, they began smashing cases inside Jewelry Dog as employees hid.

Police say the officer drew his duty weapon and one robber shot at him, so officer Almasri fired back. Witnesses heard about a dozen gunshots.

The suspects then fled the scene in a getaway car driven by a third man. Two of the suspects were arrested at nearby apartment complex; the third remains at large.

Officer Almasri has been with the department since July 2015. He will be on administrative leave, which is standard protocol.

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