HARRIS COUNTY, TX- Around 12:35 p.m. Tuesday, a Law Enforcement Officer was shot at the intersection of Richmond and Fondren in the City of Houston.   The victim was with Harris County Precinct 4 Constable Mark Herman’s Office and was in uniform on his way to work, according to Houston Police Chief J. Noe Diaz.

Chief Diaz said the unknown assailant walked from his vehicle and fired multiple shots as the unsuspecting Deputy was stopped for the redlight. He then returned to his vehicle and fled the area. Witnesses called 911 and the Deputy was taken by ambulance to Ben Taub hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Members of law enforcement throughout southeast Texas are searching for a charcoal gray Chevy Impala with what Chief Diaz called a “very unique bumper disfigurement underneath the car”. He said the suspect appeared to be an Asian or Middle Eastern male, 35 to 40 years old, wearing a grayish shirt, dark pants. He has dark hair, “somewhat balding” around 5 feet 9 inches to 6 feet tall and appears to weigh around 200 to 225 lbs.

As Chief Diaz stood in the 8900 block of Richmond near the scene of the ambush, flanked by a somber group of HPD supervisors, he called the shooting “an unfortunate and tragic incident” and said it should never happen. He stopped short of saying the LEO was targeted, reminding everyone it was still an active investigation and scene, and too soon to make that sort of determination. The Chief also said he would leave it to Constable Mark Herman’s Office to release the identity of their fallen brother. He confirmed the victim was around 50 years old and had been with the agency about four years.

Additional information will be posted as it becomes available.