KEY POINTS

  • The officer, who fired shots at the man, was unaware of the baby
  • The suspect, who was armed, was killed in the shootout 
  • The one-year-old was rushed to the hospital with a graze wound

A one-year-old baby was accidentally shot by the Houston Police, who were chasing a robbery suspect Wednesday.

The tragic incident happened around 11:30 p.m. ( ET 12:30 am) at Chevron gas station near the Southwest Freeway and Beechnut, reports ABC News.

Houston Police reportedly had been chasing a black Mercedes, possibly linked to two aggravated robberies, from Sugar Branch Drive to the Southwest Freeway when the incident occurred. Though they pulled over the suspect, he managed to speed away.

On a video uploaded on Twitter, HPD Executive Assistant Chief Troy Finner said the suspect crashed at the gas station where the woman had pulled into. The man ran out of the Mercedes and got into the woman's car while she pumped gas. The officers who chased him down gave him commands to get out. They suspected the man was about to steal the woman's car as he was armed. After he refused to obey the orders, the officer opened fire.

"One of our officers, a 15-year veteran out of Midwest Division, fired several shots," Finner said.

Unfortunately, the police did not realize the woman’s baby was in the backseat of the vehicle. The baby suffered what they believed was a graze wound from the officer's gun during the shootout. The officers administered first aid to both the baby and the suspect. While the baby was rushed to the hospital in a stable condition, the suspect died at the scene. Police are yet to identify the man who they say is in his 30s.

"The most important thing right here, for our entire city, pray for this 1-year-old and that mother," Finner said. "Can you imagine? She's pumping gas, probably coming from work or whatever, and has to go through this. And now she's in the hospital, and we're all praying for that baby."

Finner said the officer who opened fire was “deeply concerned about hurting this baby.” As per procedures, the officer, who has been with HPD for 15 years, has been placed on administrative leave while the investigation continues.

The footage of the incident caught on the gas station's surveillance system has been released. Police will be reviewing it for further investigation.

Crime scene
Representational image AFP / Johannes EISELE
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