Paper: Houston Chronicle

Date: Sun 01/27/2008

Section: A Page: 1 Edition: 4 STAR

Deputy constable clings to life after shootout / Suspect dead after confrontation at a north Harris County apartment complex

By LINDSAY WISE, JENNIFER LEAHY

Staff

A shootout at a north Harris County apartment complex Saturday left a 21-year-old man dead and a veteran deputy constable fighting for his life.

Witnesses said they heard roughly 20 shots fired at 2:30 p.m. at the Chancellor Apartments at 311 Parramatta.

"At first I thought it was fireworks," said Jose Omar Rios, who was working at the nearby Gillman Collision Center.

Cpl. Harry Thielepape, 57, was off duty at the time of the shooting, working his second job as a security guard at the apartment complex. He was, however, wearing his badge and a bulletproof vest, Precinct 6 officials said.

Thielepape pulled over a vehicle driven by Jesus Gilbert Reyna. He found marijuana and a handgun on Reyna, who had two Class C warrants, according to Harris County homicide detectives.

He arrested, handcuffed and placed Reyna in the back seat of his unmarked maroon police vehicle, but Reyna somehow managed to get hold of Thielepape's pistol, shooting the deputy multiple times, authorities said.

Thielepape returned fire with a second gun and Reyna was found shot to death in the parking lot near the deputy's haphazardly parked car, his hands cuffed in front of his body.

"We do not know how or at what point the suspect obtained a weapon," said Sgt. Bryan Pair of the Harris County Sheriff's Department homicide unit. "We're trying to find out exactly how he was handcuffed, exactly what the investigation was concerning."

Thielepape was rushed by ambulance to Memorial Hermann Hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery and was in critical condition late Saturday night.

By 5:30 p.m., more than a dozen officers were gathered outside the hospital waiting word on their co-worker's condition. At one point, they bowed their heads, held hands and prayed.

This is the second tragedy for Precinct 6 officers since late November, when off-duty Reserve Deputy Constable Carltrell Lewayne Odom, 22, was allegedly robbed and shot to death by four Jones High School students and a Fort Bend teen.

"It's been tough," said Danny Perez, a spokesman for the precinct. "We're just hoping he's going to make it through."

Thielepape has worked at Precinct 6 for more than 10 years, Perez said. He currently works in a special unit that is charged with apprehending felony suspects and parole violators, Precinct 6 Constable Victor Trevino said.

"He's handled a lot of serious felons so I know the deputy is very well trained and very well prepared," Trevino said.Thielepape probably handcuffed Reyna behind his back, but Reyna somehow managed to maneuver his hands in front of his body before snagging the deputy's gun, Trevino said.

Diamonique Jackson was one of several residents at the Chancellor Apartments who said Thielepape lives in the complex, providing security in exchange for reduced rent.

"He's tough," Jackson said. "One time, late one night, I was sitting in my car and he came up and shone the flashlight in my face and asked me what I was doing here."

Thielepape's colleagues planned to keep vigil at the hospital late Saturday.

"Right now we're just here to pray and wish for his quick recovery," said Trevino, who looked shaken and exhausted as he spoke outside the hospital's emergency room. "I think all of us are just kinda feeling down and just concerned. We want to do a good job as police officers, we just never expect this."

 

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