TABC agent wounded by armed robbers

Official was off duty when shooting occurred

By MIKE GLENN HOUSTON CHRONICLE

Sat 09/12/2009 Houston Chronicle, Section B, Page 7, 3 STAR R.O. Edition

Houston police are searching for an armed robber who was involved in the shooting of an off-duty agent with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission Friday in the driveway of a Galleria-area hotel. The shooting happened about 3:30 p.m. while TABC agent Michael Sehon was sitting in a car in the driveway of the Hilton Garden Inn on Sage near Richmond.

"(Sehon) was approached by two masked suspects who broke out the windows and placed the gun at the TABC officer's head," said Jodi Silva, a Houston police spokeswoman.

Sehon was waiting in the hotel driveway while a jewelry salesman that he had been escorting went inside to run an errand, police said.

Reports indicate Sehon and the two robbers exchanged gunfire. The TABC agent - a five-year law enforcement veteran - was shot in the left leg just above his knee, officials said.

The robbers fled in a maroon sedan apparently without taking any of the salesman's merchandise, police said.

A pistol, believed to have been used by the suspects, was found in the driveway.

Officers continued searching for the suspects while Sehon was taken to Memorial Hermann Hospital. He was released about 6 p.m., TABC officials said.

"He seemedOK, considering the situation he just went through," said TABC Capt. Rick Cruz.

Police said a possible suspect later turned up at Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital with two gunshot wounds to the back.

"We are questioning him in connection to the shooting," Silva said.

Cruz characterized Sehon as an agent who "cares about his job and always has a positive attitude."

mike.glenn@chron.com

 

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