Suspect accused of shooting 3 officers now in custody after hourslong standoff, HPD says

Thursday, January 27, 2022
HOUSTON, Texas -- An hourslong standoff in the Fifth Ward has come to an end after the suspect accused of shooting three police officers near downtown Houston was taken into custody, police said.

Roland Caballero, who was identified as the man who opened fire on the officers following a chase, was taken to the hospital after police said he suffered a gunshot wound to the neck.

WATCH: Video shows suspect carjack woman after firing at officers
Exclusive video shows suspect carjack woman after firing at officers

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The scene unfolded at about 2:42 p.m. Thursday in the 1500 block of Trallee Street, as officers were responding to a disturbance call. Police said Caballero took off from the scene as soon as he spotted the officers.

According to Houston Police Chief Troy Finner, Caballero crashed out at McGowen Street and Hutchins, where he immediately began shooting at the officers as they arrived.

WATCH: Surveillance video shows the moment gunfire was exchanged between officers and suspect
3 HPD officers shot near downtown, police say


Officers managed to return fire at Caballero, but it's unknown if he was struck. Once he was out of the car, Caballero carjacked a white Mercedes Benz at gunpoint, Finner said.
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That's when he led officers on another chase, which ended at a home in the 1800 block of Lockwood. Caballero has since barricaded himself in the home for hours, but was taken into custody at about 7 p.m., according to Finner.

WATCH: 3 policías baleados después de persecución en el centro de Houston
3 policías baleados después de persecución en el centro de Houston


The officers shot at the scene on McGowen Street were taken to Memorial Hermann hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. One of the officers was shot in the arm, a second was shot in the leg, and the third was shot in the foot, authorities said.



The injured officers were identified as 35-year-old Officer Gadson, 32-year-old Officer Hayden, and 28-year-old Officer Alvarez.




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"I want everybody, all our leaders, no more excuses, everybody take an active role and get intentional and do whatever you can do to fight gun violence," Finner said during a briefing Thursday evening. "It's not a difficult thing."



Finner's call for action comes as this is the second shooting involving law enforcement in the Houston area within a week. Over the weekend, Harris County Precinct 5 Constable Corporal Charles Galloway was shot and killed in an ambush attack while conducting a traffic stop.



The suspect in Galloway's murder, 51-year-old Oscar Rosales, was taken into custody on Wednesday after he was found at a hotel in Ciudad de Acuña, Mexico, according to U.S. Marshal Deputy Cameron Welch.
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