HPD Drops Briarview Bodycam Footage After Gun Pulled On Toddler

Body-worn camera video from a June 12 police shooting on a quiet west Houston street is now public, as Houston police on Friday released footage from an encounter that left a 49-year-old man hospitalized after officers say he pointed a gun at a father and his one-year-old child.

The shooting unfolded in the 2200 block of Briarview Drive after a chase through the Briar Village area, according to department accounts. Houston police say the public package includes a short, edited summary reel along with the full body-camera views from the officers at the scene.

In a post on X, the Houston Police Department said it was releasing both a short recap clip and the full officer camera recordings for public viewing, according to Houston Police. The department’s June 12 news release identified the suspect as 49-year-old Letonto Gaspard and said he has been charged with two counts of misdemeanor deadly conduct, per City of Houston.

What the footage and reporting show

The initial 911 call came in shortly before 7 p.m. from the 14300 block of Westheimer Road, where a man told dispatchers that a stranger had pointed a weapon at him, according to the Houston Chronicle. Reporters say the suspect then ran on foot into the Briar Village neighborhood, where officers tracked him to Briarview Drive during a brief chase.

During that pursuit, the suspect continued to point the firearm at officers before the confrontation ended in the 2200 block of Briarview Drive, the Chronicle reports. Local station Click2Houston reported that earlier in the encounter, the suspect had pointed the gun at a man and his one-year-old child, and that no officers were injured in the incident.

Officer response and suspect condition

According to the department’s written account, one officer fired his duty weapon and struck the suspect at least once before officers moved in to detain him, City of Houston reports. Police say officers immediately began providing first aid until Houston Fire Department paramedics arrived and transported the man to a local hospital.

The department says no officers were hurt in the confrontation, and the suspect remained hospitalized after the shooting as the investigation continued.

Charges and investigation

Investigators consulted the Harris County District Attorney’s Office before filing charges, and the case is listed under incident number 074867626, according to FOX26 Houston. Gaspard has been charged with two counts of misdemeanor deadly conduct while HPD’s Special Investigations Unit and the DA’s office continue their joint review of the shooting.

Where to watch the videos

HPD’s social media post links to a short recap video and to each responding officer’s body-camera view for anyone who wants to watch the incident from multiple angles, per Houston Police. Local coverage notes that the unedited clips include graphic images and uncensored audio, and the department says it is sharing several perspectives so investigators and the public can see the full context of what unfolded on Briarview Drive.

Context: body cameras and public transparency

Houston police have been posting raw body-worn camera footage more quickly after serious incidents in recent months, a trend tracked in recent coverage and by the Houston Chronicle. Advocates and reporters say the releases can boost transparency but also raise familiar questions about how and when footage is released while internal and criminal investigations are still underway.

Anyone with tips or additional video related to the June 12 incident is asked to contact HPD’s Office of Community Affairs at 713-308-3200 or the department’s non-emergency line. As always, call 911 in an emergency. This story will be updated as more official details and the full evidence review become public.