POLICE Department
UPDATE: Investigation into Shooting Incident at 3906 Tolnay Street
September 20, 2019 - Houston police have learned the identity of a deceased suspect who shot an HPD officer at 3906 Tolnay Street about 10:25 p.m. last Thursday (Sept. 12) and are asking for the public's assistance in identifying other suspects.
The deceased suspect is identified as Brandon Bell (b/m, 18).
The wounded officer, Taylor Roccaforte, underwent surgery and was later released from Memorial Hermann Hospital on Thursday (Sept. 19). He was sworn in in April 2014 and is assigned to the South Central Patrol Division.
The HPD officer who discharged his duty weapon and struck the suspect is Officer Vincent Zaunbrecher, sworn in in July 2009. He is also assigned to the South Central Patrol Division.
HPD Homicide Division Special Investigations Unit Officers R. Lujan, I. Ulloa and J. Brown reported:
Officers responded to a report of robbery suspects in the of 3900 block of Tolnay and attempted to stop four black males who matched the description of the wanted suspects. As officers attempted to detain the males, all four suspects began to flee on foot. One officer (Roccaforte) chased a suspect (Bell) behind a residence at 3901 Tristan. The second officer (Zaunbrecher) then heard screaming and, upon locating the first officer behind the residence at Tristan, observed the officer had been shot. The second officer then saw the suspect raising a firearm towards them. The second officer, in fear of his safety and that of his fellow officer, discharged his duty weapon, striking the suspect. The injured officer was transported to the hospital. The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene. Two other suspects were taken into custody without further incident. A fourth suspect remained at-large.
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Further investigation led to charges being filed against one of the two detained males, Roderick Turner (b/m, 17). He is charged with two counts of aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon in the 248th State District Court. A booking photo of Turner is not available for release pending further investigation.
The other male initially detained was questioned and released without charges.
Investigators are now seeking two other unknown suspects and ask anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.
As is customary in officer-involved shooting incidents that occur within the Houston city limits, this case is being investigated by the HPD Special Investigations Unit, the Internal Affairs Division and the Harris County District Attorney's Office.
Update JFC/KJS 9-20-19
JKS/JFC 9-13-19
Inc. #119361419
The deceased suspect is identified as Brandon Bell (b/m, 18).
The wounded officer, Taylor Roccaforte, underwent surgery and was later released from Memorial Hermann Hospital on Thursday (Sept. 19). He was sworn in in April 2014 and is assigned to the South Central Patrol Division.
The HPD officer who discharged his duty weapon and struck the suspect is Officer Vincent Zaunbrecher, sworn in in July 2009. He is also assigned to the South Central Patrol Division.
HPD Homicide Division Special Investigations Unit Officers R. Lujan, I. Ulloa and J. Brown reported:
Officers responded to a report of robbery suspects in the of 3900 block of Tolnay and attempted to stop four black males who matched the description of the wanted suspects. As officers attempted to detain the males, all four suspects began to flee on foot. One officer (Roccaforte) chased a suspect (Bell) behind a residence at 3901 Tristan. The second officer (Zaunbrecher) then heard screaming and, upon locating the first officer behind the residence at Tristan, observed the officer had been shot. The second officer then saw the suspect raising a firearm towards them. The second officer, in fear of his safety and that of his fellow officer, discharged his duty weapon, striking the suspect. The injured officer was transported to the hospital. The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene. Two other suspects were taken into custody without further incident. A fourth suspect remained at-large.
*************************
Further investigation led to charges being filed against one of the two detained males, Roderick Turner (b/m, 17). He is charged with two counts of aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon in the 248th State District Court. A booking photo of Turner is not available for release pending further investigation.
The other male initially detained was questioned and released without charges.
Investigators are now seeking two other unknown suspects and ask anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.
As is customary in officer-involved shooting incidents that occur within the Houston city limits, this case is being investigated by the HPD Special Investigations Unit, the Internal Affairs Division and the Harris County District Attorney's Office.
Update JFC/KJS 9-20-19
JKS/JFC 9-13-19
Inc. #119361419
