Body cam shows Houston officer shot at fleeing suspect when the officer heard a gunshot

On May 1, 2024, Houston Police Department (HPD) Traffic Enforcement Division officers assigned to the Highway Interdiction Unit located a vehicle involved in a pursuit a few days earlier. At that time, the pursuit was terminated due to the danger to the public, as the suspect driver was traveling at a high rate of speed. Officers obtained a warrant to seize the vehicle and, on Wednesday (May 22), it was located at apartment complex at 9475 West Sam Houston Parkway South service road (Beltway 8). Officers stopped the vehicle in the parking lot and informed the driver the vehicle was being seized. At that time, the driver stepped out of the car and also removed his 5-year-old daughter from the front passenger seat. The driver then began reaching around near the center console area, while ignoring verbal commands from officers to get out of the car and stop reaching.

Sergeant Ham, with his duty weapon in hand, positioned himself behind the suspect, who continued to reach into the front passenger side of the vehicle. The suspect then abruptly turned around, rushed toward Sergeant Ham and knocked him to the ground. During the struggle, Sergeant Ham's duty weapon discharged and no one was struck. Officer Gonzalez, who was on the other side of the car, heard the gunshot and saw Sergeant Ham fall to the ground. Fearing he had been shot, Officer Gonzalez discharged her duty weapon at the suspect at least once. The suspect was not struck and he fled from officers on foot. Additional responding officers pursued the suspect on foot, but briefly lost sight of him. As officers continued to search for the suspect, he robbed a female at gunpoint.

He was eventually located again, with assistance from an HPD Air Support helicopter, and taken into custody without further incident. The suspect, 30-year-old Robert Johnson is charged with four felony crimes in the 183rd State District Court. Those charges include aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated robbery, felon in possession of a firearm and possession with intent to deliver marijuana. A fifth charge, misdemeanor evading arrest on foot, was also filed in Harris County Criminal Court #13. HPD Sergeant M. Ham and Officer M. Gonzalez, who discharged their weapons, were not injured in the incident. Sergeant Ham and Officer Gonzalez are assigned to the Traffic Enforcement Division and were sworn in as officers in April 2008 and December 2001, respectively.