A Harris County sheriff’s deputy was shot Wednesday night in the Houston area, and a search is underway for a possible suspect who fled in a patrol vehicle.
The Harris County Sheriff’s Office said the deputy was shot in the 1100 block of Bayou near the East Freeway in East Harris County. The deputy was hospitalized in fair condition.
HCSO identified the suspect as Chase Layne Patin. Patin is described as a white male wearing a black cap and gray shirt. Authorities also warned the public not to approach him and to call 911.
Gonzalez also said Patin fled the area in a patrol car after the shooting. It was not immediately clear whether the vehicle belonged to the wounded deputy or another law enforcement officer.
In a later update, HCSO Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said the patrol car had also been located, but the suspect remained at large as an active search continued.
A Houston Police Department fixed-wing aircraft was also seen conducting a search near Channelview as authorities looked for the suspect, according to FlightRadar24.
The deputy has not been identified, HCSO is asking anyone with information about the shooting or the suspect to contact authorities.
It also remains unclear what led to the shooting, what happened before the deputy was shot or how the suspect obtained the patrol vehicle.
Authorities have not said whether anyone else was inside the vehicle or whether the suspect remains in the area.