Paper: Houston Chronicle

Date: Wed 12/12/2007

Section: B Page: 2 Edition: 3 STAR

Murder suspect killed by deputies after chase

By LINDSAY WISE, MIKE GLENN

Staff

Three sheriff's deputies shot and killed a capital murder suspect after the man pointed a gun at them during a rush-hour chase through northeast Harris County on Tuesday, authorities said.

Roy Williams Hooper, 57, was shot multiple times and died at Ben Taub General Hospital. Hooper was wanted for fatally shooting Thomas Ford, 24, during a robbery at a party Sunday in the Cypress area.

One witness reported seeing Hooper fire his semiautomatic handgun at least once before he was fatally wounded Tuesday, said Lt. John Martin, a spokesman for the Harris County Sheriff's Office. No deputies were injured.

Shortly before 5 p.m., members of the Gulf Coast Violent Offenders Task Force were closing in on Hooper at a house near Foy and Little York when investigators saw him leave in a black Dodge pickup.

Task force members contacted the sheriff's office and asked deputies to pull over the truck in which Hooper was a passenger.

Martin said deputies attempted to pull over the truck near Homestead and the Eastex Freeway. But the driver took off. The 20-minute pursuit wove through several neighborhoods.The truck driver got on Eastex Freeway and headed north. About 5:25 p.m., the driver stopped suddenly on the shoulder before the Old Humble Road exit.

Hooper got out, brandishing a gun. That's when three deputies opened fire on him, letting loose more than 30 rounds, Martin said.

The unidentified driver of the truck in which Hooper was a passenger was arrested and could face felony evading charges, Martin said.

The deputies involved were reassigned to administrative duties while the sheriff's office and the Harris County District Attorney's Office investigate the shooting.

Authorities said Hooper shot and killed Ford during a party in the 15100 block of Cypress North Houston. Ford and his pregnant girlfriend were in the kitchen about 11:30 p.m. when authorities said Hooper asked for gas money.

Ford pulled out a large roll of cash - estimated at $600 - and peeled off $5 for Hooper, authorities said.

Hooper left and returned with a pistol, and demanded all of Ford's money, authorities said. Ford and his girlfriend began to laugh, thinking Hooper was joking. Hooper pulled the trigger and shot Ford in the chest, authorities said.

Hooper then took the fatally wounded man's money and left, authorities said.

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