Armed Suspect Shot by Houston Police After Pointing Rifle at Officers During Pursuit

A 54-year-old man, Walter L. Howard, has been charged with four counts of aggravated assault of a peace officer and one count of evading arrest with a vehicle after an incident on Wednesday, May 7, in the 14000 block of Buxley Street where Houston Police Department (HPD) officers discharged their duty weapons.

The incident began around 2 p.m. when HPD Southwest Patrol Division Crime Suppression Team officers, working undercover with the Gulf Coast Violent Offenders Task Force on an unrelated investigation, observed Howard approach their vehicles. Howard then returned to his residence and shortly after exited wearing body armor, a tactical helmet, and carrying a long case consistent with a rifle case.

Howard then drove his vehicle towards the undercover officers, challenging their presence in the neighborhood before driving away. Given the proximity to a school, officers requested marked patrol units to initiate a traffic stop out of caution.

Uniformed officers in marked patrol vehicles with lights and sirens attempted a traffic stop in the 13900 block of Stancliff Street. Howard stopped briefly, spoke with officers, and then fled. Officers pursued Howard and attempted a PIT (Precision Immobilization Technique) maneuver, which was unsuccessful.

During a second PIT maneuver attempt, Howard allegedly leaned out of his driver’s side window and pointed his rifle at the officers. The pursuit continued until Howard briefly stopped in the 14000 block of Buxley Street, where he again leaned out of the driver’s side window and pointed his rifle at the officers.

Fearing for their safety and the safety of those in the vicinity, including the nearby school, four HPD officers – M. Gessner, K. Khalid, K. Acevedo, and J. Joseph – discharged their weapons, striking Howard at least once. Howard then re-entered his vehicle and continued to evade before crashing into a ditch a short distance away.

Officers took Howard into custody and provided initial first aid. Paramedics transported him to a local hospital, where he was treated and released. He was subsequently charged and booked into the Harris County Jail.

None of the involved officers were injured during the incident.

As per HPD policy for officer-involved shootings within city limits, this incident is under investigation by the HPD Special Investigations Unit, the Internal Affairs Division, and the Harris County District Attorney’s Office.