Two Houston Police Officers Injured In Shooting [UPDATED]

HOUSTON, TX -- Two Houston Police Officers were injured this afternoon when both were shot during a burglary call in southwest Houston

The incident was reported just before 12:30 p.m. in the 8700 block of Sterlingame Drive, east of Beltway 8.

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Officer involved shooting. Two officers injured and being transported to the hospital. 8714 Sterlingame. CCU4
— Houston Police (@houstonpolice) February 28, 2017

The incident began when officers were responding to a burglary call, and were flagged down by a resident in the area who said a burglary was in progress, and a perimeter was established to begin a search for the burglars.

Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo said a resident told two officers that he noticed the door to his shed was open.

Officers went to investigate, and came face to face with as many as three burglary suspects.

Police said a shooting erupted, with one officer shot multiple times in the stomach and back, and the other shot twice.

Preliminary reports indicate that the burglary suspects were armed with weapons they'd stolen from a home in that same neighborhood before police arrived.

One of the burglary suspects was killed, and has not yet been identified, and possibly two others are on the run.

Officer Jose Munoz, a 10-year veteran of the department, was shot in the foot and leg.

He taken by EMS to Ben Taub Hospital and is listed in good condition.

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said Houston Police Officer Ronnie Cortez a 24-year veteran, who was taken to Memorial Hermann Hospital in critical condition.

Turner said Cortez lives only a few house down from where the burglary was initially reported.

Meanwhile, a shelter-in-place order was issued for residents south of Bellfort Avenue, west of Gessner Drive, north of West Airport Boulevard and east of Beltway 8.

Authorities began lifting those orders by about 3:30 p.m. in some areas.

Nearby schools Gross Elementary, Valley West Elementary and Welch Middle schools were locked down because of the search, according to the Houston Independent School District.

The lock down on each of those campuses was lifted by 4 p.m.

The Brays Oak campus of Houston Community College was also locked down, and was closed for the day, officials said.

Investigators said three burglaries were committed in the neighborhood before the shooting occured.

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