Houston Police Helicopter Crashes; 1 Pilot Dead

HOUSTON, TX — A Houston Police Department helicopter crashed near an apartment complex early Saturday morning, killing one pilot and critically injuring another.

According to Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo, officers and the helicopter team were following up on reports of bodies in the bayou just before 2 a.m. Saturday.

Acevedo said the department later received reports from a crime scene unit working a nearby homicide scene that the helicopter had crashed. Authorities located the helicopter near an apartment complex in the 17000 block of Imperial Valley.

The Houston Fire Department responded to the crash and worked "feverishly" to cut both pilots from the wreckage, Acevedo said.

Both pilots were taken to a nearby hospital, where one later died.

The Houston Police Department has not released the name of the pilot pending notification of family members.

Gunshots were fired near the scene of the crash about an hour after the wreckage was discovered, Acevedo said, adding there is no reason to believe the helicopter was shot down. Six people have been taken into custody.

Acevedo said it's unclear what caused the helicopter to crash. The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration are investigating the crash.