A suspect is in custody following a police investigation into the shooting death of a Texas deputy constable on his way to work, police said.
On Tuesday afternoon, Harris County Police Precinct 4 identified the slain officer as Deputy Maher Husseini. Police said the suspect was taken into custody after a brief search. The Galveston County Sheriff's Office found the suspect's vehicle and pursued it before it crashed into the water near Galveston's Old Causeway. FOX 26 Houston Reported.
Houston Police Chief Noe Diaz called the suspect an “assailant” and said Husseini was on his way to work in his car when he stopped at a red light and a man got out of the car, approached him and opened fire on him.
“We are investigating this unfortunate and tragic incident in which a local police officer was shot by unknown assailants,” Diaz said, noting that Husseini was shot multiple times.
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Deputy Officer Maher Husseini, left, was identified as the officer who was shot and killed. (Mark Herman, Harris County Constable District 4)
Authorities have not released the suspect's name, but have described him as a man of Middle Eastern descent, between 35 and 40 years old, 5 feet 9 inches tall, weighing 200 pounds, and last seen wearing a dark shirt and pants with thinning black hair.
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Diaz said the suspect's vehicle was a charcoal gray Chevrolet Impala with “very distinctive damage” to its lower bumper.
Authorities said Husseini had been with Officer Mark Herman's office since 2021 and patrolled the South Central District.
“Please pray for Deputy Husseini,” Harris County Constable Precinct 4 posted on X.
Houston Police Chief Diaz (center) gives an update on the suspect who allegedly shot and killed a deputy on Tuesday. (Houston Police Department)
Diaz previously spoke about how the incident has affected the local community, calling it “terrible” and “something that should never have happened.”
“Any loss of life is traumatic. Any death is tragic in this community,” he said. “It brings us together even more as deputies, as police officers who are here to serve the community. This should not happen.”
A Harris County Precinct 4 deputy sheriff was shot and killed Tuesday while on his way to work. (iStock)
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Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 713-222-8477 or HPD's Homicide Unit at 713-308-3600.
