Paper: Houston Chronicle

Date: Tue 03/10/2009

Section: B Page: 2 Edition: 3 STAR R.O.

AROUND THE AREA

FROM STAFF REPORTS, FROM WIRE REPORTS

Officer shot by suspect critical

A Houston police officer who was shot in the face during a heroin investigation, during which a drug suspect was killed, remains in critical condition, authorities said.

Senior police officer Richard Salter, 54, was shot in the face Thursday about 9:05 p.m. when his squad tried to search a home in the 9300 block of East Avenue during a heroin investigation, authorities said.

Salter, a 27-year veteran of the force, was shot immediately after stepping through the doorway, authorities said.

Three other officers returned fire, killing the suspected gunman, 29-year-old Wilfido Joel Alfaro. A preliminary cause of death by the Harris County Medical Examiner's Office reports that Alfaro died of multiple gunshot wounds, authorities said.

A fund has been set up for Salter and his family and donations can be sent to the Assist the Officer's fund, 1600 State St., Houston, TX 77007.