Suspect in Houston-area Blue Alert barricaded; 2 more officers shot, Texas sheriff says
A suspect accused of shooting a Texas sheriff’s deputy on Wednesday night is believed to have wounded two more officers during a standoff at a Houston area home Thursday night, the Harris County sheriff said.
Terran Green is believed to be barricaded in a home in the 11500 block of Silhouette Ridge, near Summercreek High School, Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said in a social media post about 7:20 p.m. Two law enforcement officers were shot at that location and taken to a hospital with injuries that are not believed to be life threatening, the sheriff said.
Earlier Thursday, another suspect authorities were looking for in connection with the shooting of the sheriff’s deputy on Wednesday evening was located and released, officials said. Police apprehended James Green, authorities said around 10 a.m. Thursday. James Green was questioned and released and no charges against him are pending, the Harris County Sheriff’s Office said in a social media post around 11:15 a.m.
Sheriff Gonzalez said at a news conference Wednesday night that a 29-year-old sheriff’s deputy was shot during a traffic stop and was in critical condition.
According to a Blue Alert, which is sent out when someone injures or kills a police officer, authorities were trying to locate 34-year-old Terran Green.
Terran Green left the scene of Wednesday’s shooting in a blue 2016 Ford Escape He was wearing a gray shirt and black shorts.
In a midnight update Wednesday night, authorities identified James Green as the second person believed to have been in the vehicle with Terran Green. Around 4:45 a.m. Thursday, authorities said police had located the vehicle, but the two men were still at large at that time.
Anybody with information was urged to call 911 immediately.
The Harris County Sheriff’s Office said in a news conference Wednesday night that the deputy was shot while conducting a traffic stop on Homestead Road around 7:40 p.m. Gonzalez identified the deputy as Joseph Anderson in a social media post Thursday.
Within a minute or two, dispatchers received word that the deputy was down and witnesses started calling in to describe the shooting. Paramedics were there within minutes and a few minutes after their arrival, Anderson was taken to the hospital in critical condition.
Gonzalez said he did not know what prompted the traffic stop and was not yet aware of what happened leading up to the shooting. Initial information indicates that the deputy was shot at least twice.
Around 10 p.m., Gonzalez said Anderson was in surgery and that the sheriff’s office was praying for him and asking for prayers.
In an update shortly before noon Thursday, Gonzalez said Anderson’s surgery was successful and he is in critical but stable condition and improving. Gonzalez requested continued prayers for Anderson’s recovery.
Anderson has been with the sheriff’s office for about a year and three months.
Family members descended on the hospital after hearing word of the deputy’s injuries, Gonzalez said.
“We’re going to be conducting a very massive manhunt and I’ve instructed everyone that it’s all hands on deck,” Gonzalez said. “We’re not going to stop until we find the person or persons responsible for injuring our deputy.”
Tonight, a Harris Co. Sheriff’s Deputy was shot in the line of duty.
DPS Special Agents are deployed & responding.
We will not stop until the criminal is caught & brought to justice.
Cecilia & I ask all Texans to join us in praying for the sheriff’s deputy & their family.— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) August 17, 2023
Gonzalez said Terran Green and anybody else who was in the vehicle with him should be considered dangerous. He emphasized that anybody who has any information should call 911 or contact Harris County Crime Stoppers, where tips can be submitted anonymously, at 713-222-8477.
“They shot a deputy and it’s unacceptable,” Gonzalez said. “We’re not going to tolerate it now. Not now, not at any point. We’re going to do everything we can to bring them to justice. ... Our focus, law enforcement’s focus, is to go out there and make sure we locate the persons responsible for this and bring them to justice ASAP.”