HPD: 2 in custody after hitting officer with car

  Crystal Kobza

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A Houston police officer was recovering Saturday after he was hit by a suspect's car during a shooting at a popular bar and restaurant.

The parking lot of Twin Peaks restaurant near the Southwest Freeway became the scene of an overnight officer-involved shooting where the officer was forced to discharge his weapon twice at the suspect vehicle.

Two Houston police officers were working security at the restaurant when they were caught in the chaos of a fight.

Officials said the fight broke out around 1:30am. The officers escorted two suspects outside. That's when the duo hopped into a maroon Mitsubishi Galant, only to hit one of the officers in the leg as they fled.

"The suspect puts the car in drive, they pull forward and strike a parked vehicle, put the car in reverse and -- as they are pulling away from the officer -- he is struck in the leg."

Out of fear for his life, police say the injured officer shot at the suspects' car.

"He discharges his duty weapon and strikes the vehicle," HPD spokesperson Victor Senties said. "The vehicle then pulls around in the parking lot, comes back out and intentionally swerves towards the officer again."

The officer reached for his gun for the second time as he saw them coming back around.

"He discharges his duty weapon again, believing he is about to be struck," Senties said. "At that point, the vehicle flees the scene."

Both suspects were in custody by Saturday afternoon after they sought medical care. One of them showed up at Memorial Hermann Southwest with a minor gunshot wound. He was treated and released to police. Investigators tracked the second suspect down at an urgent care facility in Pearland. He suffered a gunshot wound to the knee and is expected to recover.

Another man involved in the initial fight inside the bar was arrested at the scene for public intoxication.

Police say Officer J. Seay, who was hit by the suspects' vehicle, has been on the police force for seven years and is currently assigned to the South Central Patrol Division. They say his injuries were not serious.

Surveillance video captured the incident, but police say they are not able to release that video to us at this point because it is part of an internal affairs investigation.

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