Law enforcement officers were involved in four shootings in as many days in Northeast Houston and Harris County.
The first shooting occurred on Jan. 15, around 9:30 p.m.
Houston PD Narcotics officers went to a house in the 6700 block of Lechner to serve a search warrant.
Police say the officers were confronted with a suspect armed with a shotgun. The suspect reportedly told officers “come and get him.” Fearing their safety one of the officers fired at the suspect. The suspect returned fire with the officers. During the exchange the suspect was killed.
The second shooting took place around 9:15 p.m. on Jan. 17.
According to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were dispatched to the 6700 block of Village Bridge to serve Amjed Kalaf with an arrest warrant. Kalaf was being arrested on a charge of assaulting a peace officer on Jan. 15.
Deputies say that when they arrived at the home they were told that the suspect was inside and he did not intend to surrender. The sheriff’s office said that when deputies confronted Kalaf he was holding a weapon and refused to obey commands to lay it down. Fearing for their safety, the deputies said they were forced to fire on Kalaf.
Kalaf’s family says that the deputies used unnecessary force in the incident. They claim that they told deputies that Kalaf was psychologically ill, and that he was trying to force the shooting by brandishing a toy firearm. The sheriff’s department has not commented on this allegation.
Later that evening another deputy who was working off-duty at a northeast side apartment complex shot a home invasion suspect.
The sheriff’s office said two deputies were working at the Green Tree Place Apartments in the 700 block of Dunson when they heard shots being fired from the front side of the complex.
As the deputies came close to the area where the shots were fired they saw two armed suspects. When the suspects refused commands to lay down their arms one of the deputies fired at the suspects. One suspect was hit in the upper high. The other suspect fled the scene.
It is believed that the suspects had just committed a home invasion robbery. During the investigation three weapons and a bag of marijuana was found, which is believed to be connected with the two suspects.
Two Houston police officers working security at the Amazonia night club on Aldine-Bender were involved with a shotgun wielding suspect on Jan. 18.
The Houston police department says that it was near closing time early in the morning when the officers saw two men get into an argument in the parking lot. One of the men went to his vehicle and retrieved a shotgun which he used to threaten the other patron.
The officers said they drew their weapons and ordered the man to lay down the shotgun. When he refused they both fired. The man was transported to an area hospital in stable condition.
