Two deputies shot in exchanged gunfire, suspect killed

HOUSTON, TX- On Tuesday night, the sheriff’s deputies responded to a shooting in Katy, Texas. When the deputies arrived, shots were fired at them by the suspect and the deputies returned fire, which left the suspect dead and the deputies injured.

Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said that both officers were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.

Reportedly, Chief Deputy Edison Toquica said that on Tuesday night that a call was made around 8 p.m. by the occupant of the house regarding a discharge of firearms in the house.

Toquica said one of the deputies was hit in the right leg. The other deputy was struck in the leg and also grazed in the head and left ear.

“We’re blessed that both of them are in stable condition,” Toquica said.

The deputies names were not shared, but said they were 27 and 28 years old and that one had been on the force for one year and the other for two.

“Law enforcement is part of the community. Our kids go to school with your kids. We go to the same church, we shop at the same grocery store. So this is a time that we have to stand shoulder to shoulder and work together towards curbing the violent crime that we’re seeing,” Toquica said.

About the suspect, Toquica said, “We’re being advised that he is a paranoid schizophrenic at this time. That hasn’t been 100 percent confirmed. Of course, all of this information is preliminary, but that is what we’ve been advised as of this point.”

The suspect name is not shared to the public, but it’s known that he is a 43-year-old man who was out of jail on bond for aggravated assault of a family member that happened in 2020.

The investigation remains ongoing.