HPD Officer Shoots Suspected Car Thief

Updated: Friday, 11 Sep 2009, 7:53 AM CDT

Published : Friday, 11 Sep 2009, 7:37 AM CDT

JOHN PERERA

HOUSTON - A routine traffic stop ended in violence when a police officer shot a suspected car thief after he refused to follow directions.

The officer shot the male suspect twice in the leg when he began to reach for something in his pockets, Houston Police said.

The suspect was transported to Memorial Hermann Northwest Hospital and is said to be in stable condition.

Around 2:15 a.m., the officer spotted a vehicle running stop signs in the neighborhood, said police. After scanning the license plate, the vehicle was listed as stolen.

The officer pulled over the car at the intersection of Lawn and Marjorie when the suspect walked out of the vehicle and began to walk towards the officer with his hands in his pockets, police officials said.

The officer ordered the victim to show his hands and stop, but the suspect did not listen or follow the officer's commands, said police. Fearing for his life, the officer shot the suspect.

A passenger was also in the stolen vehicle and is being held for questioning according to police officials.