HOUSTON — Houston police are investigating after they said an officer shot a robbery suspect on the northeast side on Sunday afternoon.
It happened along Brewster Street just east of the Eastex Freeway and south of Liberty Road.
Authorities said the incident happened around 2:30 p.m.
HPD said both the officer and the suspect, 30-year-old Kevin Lyn Mitchell, were taken to area hospitals. Mitchell was stable and underwent surgery, HPD said. The officer was expected to be OK.
A day after the incident, HPD announced that Mitchell was charged with aggravated assault of a public servant and felony attempt to take a weapon from a police officer. They also released a recent mugshot of Mitchell, who remained hospitalized.
A witness said he saw Mitchell running away from the officer before the shooting happened. The witness said he saw them fighting in a field near a store where Mitchell was seen hanging out. He said he heard the officer tell Mitchell to stop going for his Taser before the officer pulled out his gun and fired one shot.
According to police, Mitchell went into a nearby Family Dollar and stole beer. When an employee tried to stop him, Mitchell assaulted the employee, police said.
"The suspect went into the business, he stole beer, and when the clerk tried to stop him, he assaulted the clerk," HPD Executive Assistant Chief Ban Tien said.
As officers responded to the scene, one of them spotted Mitchell, who started to run. The officer chased him down and caught him in a field, where a struggle ensued.
"As the officer confronted the suspect and getting ready to grab ahold of him, shortly thereafter a struggle ensued," Tien said.
Police said Mitchell tried to disarm the officer and also assaulted the 2-year HPD veteran. That's when, according to police, the officer fired at least one shot, hitting Mitchell.
"The officer was in fear for his life ... discharged at least one time, striking the suspect," Tien said.
Phone video captured the moment officers began rendering aid to Mitchell before he was rushed to an area hospital.
Authorities said Mitchell has a lengthy criminal history and also had an open felony theft warrant.
Investigators said they were interviewing witnesses and also searching for video of the incident.
It's unclear if Mitchell had a weapon.
Police asked anyone with information or videos to contact the department's homicide unit at 713-308-3600.
Here's the update police provided at the scene: