Slain robbery suspect named; infant recovering

Authorities have identified an armed man shot and killed by a police officer late Wednesday at a southwest Houston gas station.

The Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences on Friday said the shooting victim is 33-year-old Broderick Woods of Houston. A 1-year-old boy also struck by the officer’s gunfire remained hospitalized in stable condition as of Friday afternoon, police said.

The shooting happened around 11:30 p.m. at a Chevron gas station at 7931 Southwest Freeway, according to Houston police. Police spotted a black Mercedes-Benz believed to be tied to a string of robberies. Woods, the driver, fled when police tried to stop him. He crashed outside the gas station and ran to a woman’s car parked at a pump, police said.

Police said they feared for the woman’s safety when Woods climbed into the driver’s seat with gun in hand, while officers surrounded the car and commanded him to drop the weapon.

Officer E. Garza discharged his weapon several times, police said, fatally striking Woods and hitting the baby in the back seat.

A police spokesperson said the exact number of shots fired would be released following an internal investigation, and that they recovered a gun belonging to Woods at the scene.