HOUSTON – An officer with the Houston Police Department is accused of shooting his wife in the face during an off-duty incident. The individual has been relieved of duties and taken into custody, according to Houston Police Chief Troy Finner.
During a press briefing, Chief Finner said the shooting took place just after midnight Monday, June 12, at an apartment on the northwest side of the city, the Fort Worth Star Telegram reported.
Responding officers discovered the 30-year-old female victim had suffered a gunshot wound to the face. The weapon was reportedly fired by her husband, an off-duty officer with the Houston Police Department, Finner confirmed.
The woman was rushed to the hospital and taken into surgery. Her condition was unknown at the time of publication.
“We pray that she’s going to be alright and make a full recovery,” the police chief said.
A rifle was reportedly used in the shooting. HPD does not issue take-home rifles to officers, so Finner said the weapon may have been purchased by the husband.
Finner said no one else was in the apartment with the couple when the shooting occurred. It’s unclear what led to the gunfire.
The officer was arrested and booked into jail on the charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, Finner confirmed. Since formal charges are pending, his name has not been released.
Finner said the two-year officer was “immediately relieved of duty” and an investigation will take place, Yahoo News reported.
“We all took an oath of office to serve and protect, but we’re human as well. This hurts. It hurts all of us,” Finner said.
