A high-speed pursuit that tore up I-45 across multiple counties ended in gunfire Monday morning, when a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper shot a Harris County man accused of aggravated assault in Leon County. The suspect was critically injured, and the incident has now been handed off to the Texas Rangers.
How the chase unfolded
According to Leon County deputies, dispatchers were alerted to a northbound pursuit on I-45 as the fleeing vehicle crossed into the county from Madison County. The chase came to a stop near mile marker 163 northbound. The same vehicle was also linked to an aggravated robbery reported in Walker County, ABC13 Houston reported.
Rangers take the lead
The Leon County Sheriff's Office told local media that the Texas Rangers are now leading the shooting investigation. The Rangers serve as the state’s investigative arm and are routinely called in for officer-involved shootings and other major criminal cases, per the Texas Department of Public Safety.
What officials say about the shooting
Authorities say a DPS trooper opened fire on the suspect, who was then transported in critical condition to a medical center in Temple. No DPS troopers were reported injured, according to ABC13 Houston. Drivers were urged to steer clear of the area while investigators documented the scene and collected evidence.
What comes next
The Rangers' investigation remains active, and local and state authorities say additional information will be released as it becomes available. Residents along the I-45 corridor in Leon County and neighboring areas should anticipate a continued law-enforcement presence and possible traffic slowdowns as the work at the scene continues.
