2 Dead, 7 Arrested After Shootout During HPD Narcotics Sting

HOUSTON — A narcotics sting in southeast Houston involving the DEA, the Houston Police Department and SWAT resulted in seven arrests and left two men mean dead Wednesday night.
According to Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo the task force agents had a meeting with several known narcotics dealers, who possibly had gang ties.

Shortly before 10 p.m., the nine men showed up at a warehouse 77th Street and Harrisburg. Acevedo said eight of the men went into the warehouse with their guns out. Within minutes, two of the men ran out of the warehouse.

“Our SWAT team officers came out of a second building, and announced themselves,” he said.

That’s when the suspect turned and fired SWAT officers. Acevedo said one of the SWAT officers shot back, hitting the man, who died at the scene. The second man got into one of the waiting cars and took off. Police pursued the man, who crashed into a parked car nearby and fled on foot.

Police chased the man toward the ship channel and hid in a rock quarry. A K-9 officer was able to find the man, who Acevedo said surrendered without incident.

Meanwhile, officers on the scene ordered the seven remaining suspects to drop their guns and surrender, and they were arrested, Acevedo said.

The suspect who’d fled and been caught was brought back to the scene and began complaining that he could not breathe.

The man lost consciousness and tactical medics, who are also licensed medical doctors, began CPR on the suspect and used a defibrillator to help shock his heart.

"It was a tremendous effort to save his life," said Acevedo, who witnessed the incident.

An ambulance arrived and took the suspect to Ben Taub Hospital with “CPR in progress,” Acevedo said, but the suspect died on the way to the hospital.

The officer who shot the suspect has been placed on paid administrative leave, Acevedo said.

The seven who were arrested will face federal narcotics charges.

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