Police Officer Shot Dead, 2 Deputies Injured by Gunman in Houston Bar Ambush

A police officer was killed and two others from his force wounded after police were ambushed at a nightclub in Houston.

The deputies were working on a job at the 45 North Bar and Lounge in the 4400 block of the North Freeway near Crosstimbers at around 2.15 a.m. Saturday morning when they responded to a disturbance outside that may have been a robbery.

Houston Police Department (HPD) executive assistant chief James Jones said in a media briefing that the officers were trying to make an arrest and were involved in a struggle with a suspect when someone else used a rifle to open fire behind.

"We believed they were ambushed and shot from behind," Jones said, adding that it was not known if the officers were able to return fire.

One deputy who was shot in the back was undergoing surgery and another officer was hit in the foot and was about to go into surgery.

After the incident, a heavy police presence remained in the area of the nightclub, and witnesses described how medics were treating people who were injured, ABC 13 reported.

Harris County sheriff's deputies, deputy constables and Houston police officers were seen searching an area off the freeway including a hotel, the network added.

In appealing for people to come forward with information to contact the Houston Police Department homicide division, Jones said, "We are a strong community, we gather around when our officers are hurt (and) killed in the line of duty."

The suspected shooter is a Hispanic male in his early 20s in a white T-shirt and blue jeans. He has been described as heavy set with a beard.

Houston police said a person of interest who was close to the scene was arrested and taken into custody although they did not know whether it was a witness or a suspect.

Harris County Precinct 4 Constable Mark Herman told the same briefing "I left my third deputy, who is deceased, here in the hospital," he said, "it's probably one of the hardest things I've done in my career."

"What happened tonight was evil," Herman said, "and now, the good is going to sweep in, and I hope for swift justice. I know that the Houston Police Department is going to do a very thorough investigation."

"My main concern is my injured deputies and their families," Herman continued, "I'm asking for all our community's thoughts and prayers for their families."

Newsweek has contacted Houston Police for further comment.

Update 10/16/21 8:32 a.m. ET: This article has been updated with further information.