A suspect has been charged following a chaotic encounter with Houston police that led to an officer-involved shooting this past Sunday. According to the City of Houston, Maxie Ray Whitaker, 42, faces aggravated assault charges stemming from the incident at 5000 Westheimer Road.
In a situation that escalated quickly, HPD officers were working an extra job at a business when a blue Nissan Versa, linked to a recent jugging, or predatory theft, drew their attention. While attempting to apprehend the suspect, identified as Whitaker, the officers found themselves in the midst of oncoming traffic, the suspect trying to escape by driving into other vehicles. With a conflict that began with a car chase, it ended with a Houston police sergeant pinned and responding with gunfire, as reported by the City of Houston.
Sergeant R. Marquez, who became trapped in the suspect vehicle's door during the struggle, was transported to Memorial Hermann Hospital – Texas Medical Center with injuries not considered life-threatening. Marquez, an officer since May 2001, was discharging his duty weapon when deliberately struck by another vehicle that Whitaker hit, as stated by the City of Houston.
After the suspect hit a second vehicle, it is reported that, "the sergeant discharged his duty weapon more than once, striking the suspect." Whitaker was eventually stopped and rendered aid by officers before being transported to the hospital in critical condition. The Harris County District Attorney's Office leveled charges of aggravated assault against the suspect against Whitaker, according to the City of Houston.
The case is now under investigation by HPD Special Investigations Unit, the Internal Affairs Division, and the Harris County District Attorney’s Office, as per procedure with officer-involved shootings within Houston city limits. The investigations will seek to untangle the events that unfolded and prompted the use of deadly force, as per the City of Houston.
