HOUSTON (AP) — The Latest on the shooting of a Houston deputy constable (all times local):
8:30 a.m.
A deputy constable who was shot four times outside of a Houston convenience store is out of surgery and expected to recover.
Officials say Harris County Deputy Constable Alden Clopton underwent several hours of surgery early Thursday.
Constable May Walker says Clopton was wearing a protective vest when he was shot Wednesday night in an attack she described as an “ambush.” Clopton was standing next to another deputy constable’s patrol vehicle after assisting with a traffic stop.
Walker says the suspect fired six shots, with one going into the car and one toward the ground.
She says four bullets hit Clopton. Officials earlier said Clopton had a bullet lodged near his heart, plus abdomen wounds.
Walker says Clopton faces a long recovery but should be OK.
Investigators have not announced any arrests, but officials have said they are questioning a person who matches the suspect’s description.
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6 a.m.
Houston authorities have identified the deputy constable that was shot and is in surgery.
Lt. Holland Jones of the Harris County Precinct 7 Constable’s Office told media outlets Thursday morning that Alden Clopton is an 11-year veteran who is married and has children.
Clopton was approached from behind and shot six times outside of a convenience store overnight.
Houston Police spokesman Kese (KEES) Smith says Clopton was standing next to another deputy constable’s vehicle when he was approached from behind at about 11:20 p.m. Wednesday and shot six times outside of a convenience store.
Smith says a person matching the suspect’s description went to a nearby fire station and is being questioned, but has not been arrested or charged.
Smith said the deputy constable was in surgery Thursday morning and he didn’t know how serious his injuries were.
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3:50 a.m.
A Houston police spokesman says a male matching the description of the suspect in the shooting of a deputy constable is being questioned by investigators.
Houston police spokesman Kese (KEES) Smith says that shortly after the Wednesday night shooting that wounded the deputy constable, a person matching the suspect’s description showed up a nearby fire station. Smith says the person hasn’t been arrested or charged but also said authorities aren’t currently searching for anyone else in the shooting.
Smith says the deputy constable was shot multiple times from across the street while standing outside another deputy constable’s vehicle.
Smith said the deputy constable was in surgery Thursday morning and he didn’t know how serious his injuries were.
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1:20 a.m.
A deputy constable was rushed to a hospital after a suspect approached him from behind and shot him six times outside a convenience store in Houston, authorities said.
The incident happened between midnight and 12:15 a.m. Thursday, according to Pamela Greenwood, a spokeswoman for the Harris County precinct seven constable’s office. The deputy is expected to survive, she said.
Greenwood said the deputy had parked his patrol vehicle at a convenience store in midtown Houston after conducting a traffic stop. He was leaning into the vehicle, talking to a reserve deputy trainee in the passenger’s seat, when an unknown suspect approached from behind and shot him.
“It was completely unprovoked,” Greenwood said, adding that the deputy did not have time to respond.
The deputy, who was not immediately identified, was shot six times, in the side and back, and was taken to a hospital. According to Greenwood, doctors believe his injuries are not life-threatening. No one else was injured.
Houston police are investigating and searching for the suspect. They were expected to hold a news briefing early Friday.
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