Humble police swarmed the parking lot of the Academy Sports + Outdoors store along FM 1960 on Wednesday, prompting a traffic alert for drivers near the Eastex Freeway as officers worked a crime scene. Residents were asked to steer clear of the area and find an alternate route while the investigation continued.
What We Know So Far
The Humble Police Department is investigating a crime scene in the parking lot of the Academy Sports + Outdoors store near FM 1960 and US-69/Eastex Freeway, according to KPRC Click2Houston, which reported the heavy police response and asked residents to avoid the area and use an alternate route. KHOU reported that the shooting prompted a traffic alert. The store sits at 9470 FM 1960 Bypass.
KHOU reported that a theft suspect died after a shootout with two Humble officers in the parking lot. The suspect was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead; neither officer was injured.
A Retail Corridor With a History of Police Activity
This is not the first time law enforcement has descended on this particular Academy Sports location. In November 2024, the Humble Police Department conducted a retail theft operation at the same store, arresting three suspects and recovering $3,141.76 in stolen apparel following a foot pursuit through the parking lot, according to a department account published by CrimeWatch. Those suspects faced felony theft and evading charges. Under Texas Penal Code § 31.16, organized retail theft involving property valued between $2,500 and $30,000 is classified as a state jail felony, punishable by 180 days to two years in state jail, per the same CrimeWatch report.
Humble Police Chief Ken Theis described parking lots as a target-rich environment for vehicle burglary and auto theft, according to Community Impact. The Academy Sports store has a parking lot along FM 1960.
Crime Trends Cut Both Ways in Humble
Humble's broader crime picture is mixed. Humble Police Chief Ken Theis told the Humble City Council in February 2025 that violent crime in the city had dropped 26% over the preceding five-year period, Community Impact reported.
The Academy Sports + Outdoors store is located at 9470 FM 1960 Bypass in Humble.
Part of a Busier Stretch for Humble Police
Hoodline has reported a fatal pedestrian crash in Humble. A Washington Post analysis, relayed by the Houston Chronicle, ranked a segment of FM 1960 fourth for pedestrian deaths.
The Humble Police Department has also faced internal turbulence in recent months. In March 2026, Click2Houston reported that the department saw administrative changes and officer retirements amid city inquiries into travel expenditures and background screening records, though that inquiry involved internal administrative procedures separate from Wednesday's investigation.
No further details on the Academy Sports crime scene had been released as of Wednesday afternoon. Drivers in the area are still being told to avoid the stretch of FM 1960 near the store and seek an alternate route while officers remain on scene.
