Suspect Arrested in Officer-Involved Shooting After Family Dollar Robbery in Houston

A suspect has been apprehended following an officer-involved shooting incident that unfolded on Sunday, December 18, at approximately 2:30 p.m. The incident originated from a reported robbery at a Family Dollar located at 3302 Liberty Road.

Houston Police Department (HPD) patrol officers responded to the scene. Officer Reinhold, operating a marked HPD patrol vehicle, observed the suspect fleeing from the reported robbery at 2400 Brewster Street. The suspect, carrying merchandise believed to be stolen, disregarded the officer’s commands to stop and continued to flee on foot.

In pursuit, Officer Reinhold caught up with the suspect in a vacant lot on Quitman Street. Attempting to detain the suspect, Officer Reinhold was attacked, sustaining injuries from punches, bites, hits, and stabs with tree branches. In self-defense, the officer drew his duty weapon, which the suspect attempted to seize. Officer Reinhold successfully re-holstered the weapon, and the suspect fled again.

A subsequent physical altercation between the officer and the suspect led to both individuals falling to the ground. During the struggle, the suspect tried to take the officer’s taser. Fearing for his life, Officer Reinhold discharged his duty weapon, striking the suspect.

Houston Fire Department paramedics transported the wounded suspect, identified as Kevin Lyn Mitchell, 30, to a local hospital in stable condition.

Paramedics also attended to Officer Reinhold’s non-life-threatening injuries sustained during the altercation.

Mitchell has been charged with aggravated assault of a public servant and felony attempt to take a weapon from a police officer.

Officer Reinhold, sworn in as an officer in July 2022 and assigned to the Northeast Patrol Division, discharged his duty weapon in the line of duty. As per standard protocol, the incident will be thoroughly investigated by the HPD Special Investigations Unit, Internal Affairs Division, and the Harris County District Attorney’s Office.