Houston Police Department

April 7, 2005 -- Houston police are investigating the fatal shooting of a robbery suspect at 1000 Evergreen about 2:05 p.m. on Wednesday (Apr. 6).

The identity of the suspect is unknown. He was believed to be in his late teens or early 20s. The male was shot by an off-duty Brookside Village Police Department officer during an exchange of gunfire. The officer, G. Hernandez, was not injured.

HPD Homicide Division Sergeant P.C. Motard and Officer C.P. Abbondandolo reported:

Brookside Village Officer Hernandez was off duty and in uniform, working an extra job at the pawnshop at 1000 Evergreen when three masked suspects entered the store. The suspects pointed their weapons at the officer and prevented him from drawing his weapon. The suspects ordered everyone to get on the floor. At that time, the store manager got a pistol and fired at the suspect closest to Officer Hernandez. The shot caused the suspects to become disoriented and Officer Hernandez drew his weapon and began shooting at the masked suspects. Officer Hernandez shot the suspect nearest to him and that suspect dropped the SKS rifle he was carrying. The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene. Officer Hernandez fired at the two remaining suspects, who in turn fired back at him. One of the two suspects was shot and was helped out of the store by the uninjured suspect. Once outside the store, the suspects got into a waiting Chevrolet Blazer and sped from the parking lot. The suspects drove about a block away and abandoned the Blazer in the 1000 block of Claxton Street. There, the suspects got into two separate vehicles and left the area. One vehicle was a yellow 1980s model Oldsmobile Cutlass and the other vehicle was a purple or maroon 1995-96 Pontiac Bonneville.

All three masked suspects were described as black males in their late teens or early 20s. There were four customers and four employees in the pawnshop at the time of the shooting. None of them was injured. Anyone with information on the two wanted suspects is urged to contact the HPD Homicide Division at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.

JFC/JGA 4-7-05
Inc #052401105

For additional information, please contact the HPD Public Affairs Division at 713-308-3200.