Police officer fires at suspect in nightclub fight
A police officer fired a gunshot outside a nightclub in northeast Houston.
The shooting happened about 11:20 p.m. Friday at the Love Show Time B.Y.O.B. at 3608 Crane near Russell, said Jodi Silva, a spokeswoman for the Houston Police Department.
Silva said two HPD officers were in uniform and working an extra as security at the club. When they arrived, people told them two men had had a fight inside the club and been asked to leave. One man left but the other stayed behind because his car was blocked by other vehicles in the parking lot.
Silva said one of the two officers, identified as J. Babineaux, stayed with the man in the parking lot while the other officer went elsewhere. As Babineaux and the man stood beside each other, they saw a black car pull up. The driver, who was the other bar patron involved in the earlier altercation, rolled down the passenger side window and fired gunshots at the man.
Silva said Babineaux returned gunfire. The suspect sped away.
The man in the parking lot and Babineaux were not injured. It was not known if the suspect was wounded but Babineaux told investigators he thought his bullets hit the car.
Silva said witnesses told investigators the suspect’s name and officers are searching for him. His name has not been released because he has not yet been charged in the case. No description of him was available.
As is customary in officer-involved shootings in Houston, HPD Internal Affairs and Homicide divisions will investigate.