Crime & Safety
2 Deputies Wounded In Shootout While Responding To A Disturbance
Several deputies responding to a disturbance were wounded in a shootout with a man with a shotgun. Deputies shot the man more than 20 times.
ATASCOCITA, TX — Two Harris County Precinct 4 Deputy Constable's are recovering from multiple gunshot wounds after they were injured in a shootout Tuesday morning.
The incident happened at about 3 a.m. when deputies were called to a home in the 12400 block of Saratoga Woods Lane in the Eagle Springs subdivision for a disturbance.
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Officials said as many as five deputy constable’s arrived at the home and knocked several times, but the man, identified as Wesley Smith, refused to answer.
Several minutes later, Smith came outside with a shotgun and began firing at deputies.
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Deputies returned fire, hitting Smith with at least 20 rounds.
Deputy Christopher Gaines, a two-year veteran of the contable’s office, was seriously wounded in the legs by several shotgun blasts, KPRC reported.
UPDATE ON OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTING!!
Constable Mark Herman and his staff are currently at Memorial Hermann Hospital. Our Constable Deputy is in stable condition and is expected to undergo surgery at any time.
Please keep our hero in your thoughts and prayers!! pic.twitter.com/3BXp6lHP6o
— Mark Herman, Harris County Constable Precinct 4 (@Pct4Constable) April" class="redactor-linkify-object">https://twitter.com/Pct4Consta... 17, 2018
He was flown to Memorial Hermann Hospital where he underwent surgery to remove the shotgun pellets, and is in stable condition.
Smith is also at Memorial Hermann, and in the room next door to the wounded deputy, according to Constable Mark Herman.
His condition is unknown.
He has been charged with four counts of aggravated assault.
Meanwhile, another deputy was injured after he was grazed in the head during the shootout and was taken to Memorial Hermann.
Two other deputies were injured as they retreated during the shootout, KTRK reported.
The Harris County DA's Office is investigating the incident.
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