Police say an officer was injured in a South Houston shooting. Witnesses described hearing gunfire and a heavy police response.
SOUTH HOUSTON, Texas — An officer was injured in a shooting in South Houston early Friday, prompting a large police response and raising new questions about what led up to the incident.
Video from the scene shows a heavily damaged vehicle with bullet holes and a shattered rear window — though it’s still unclear how it’s connected to the shooting.
Audio from police scanners suggests the incident may have involved a chase, though that has not been officially confirmed.
Houston police responded around 1 a.m. to the 1400 block of Amarillo Street, near 6th Street and Avenue B, after receiving a request for assistance from South Houston police.
Officers arriving at the scene set up a perimeter and began assisting the neighboring agency.
Multiple agencies responded to the scene overnight as the situation unfolded.
Police also worked to clear freeways to help an injured officer get to a nearby hospital for treatment.
What police say so far
Officials said the situation appears to involve an officer-involved shooting.
An officer sustained minor injuries and was taken to the hospital, though no additional details about how the shooting unfolded have been released.
Houston police emphasized they were assisting South Houston police, who are leading the investigation.
Witness describes hearing gunfire, heavy police response
People in the area said they heard multiple gunshots before seeing a large law enforcement response.
“And then all of a sudden, we just hear, like, the pop pop pop,” one witness said.
The witness described helicopters arriving quickly and a heavy police presence flooding the area.
“I’m talking about 200 guys straight coming down Spencer (Highway),” the witness said.
Community reaction
Some people nearby said the incident was frightening, especially given past experiences in the area.
“We thought we was getting shot at,” another person said.
Investigation ongoing
Authorities have not released information about a suspect or what may have led to the shooting.
Audio from police scanners suggests the incident may have involved a chase, though that has not been officially confirmed.
The investigation remains active as officials work to gather more details.
This is a developing story. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available.