By Samantha Ketterer, THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE and Officer .com
A deputy constable and a man were wounded Tuesday morning in a shootout in Atascocita, according to the Harris County Constable Precinct 4.
Constable Mark Herman identified the deputy as Christopher Gaines and said he was flown to the hospital.
(See Scene. A man was shot at least 22 times after he opened fire on Harris County Sheriff’s deputies and hit one of them in the legs Tuesday morning, sheriff’s officials said. Courtesy of The Dallas Morning News and YouTube. Posted on Apr 17, 2018)
The deputy, who has been with the department for two years and is assigned to its East District Patrol division in Humble, is currently in stable condition, Herman said.
“Our Constable Deputy is in stable condition and is expected to undergo surgery at any time,” Herman tweeted.
“Please keep our hero in your thoughts and prayers!!”
The shooter was also taken to the hospital after being shot multiple times by deputies, according to the constable’s office.
He was in serious condition, Metro Video reported.
The shooting happened around 2:50 a.m. near Saratoga Woods and Kennesaw Mountain.
Deputies arrived in response to a disturbance call, and a man came out of a home with a shotgun, Herman said.
He started shooting at the deputies, and three or four of them returned fire and shot the man, Herman said.
The one deputy was shot, and other deputies were taken to the hospital, Herman said.
The extent of their injuries is unclear.
The shooter was possibly using buckshots, Herman said.
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Below is the full statement released by Harris County Precinct 4 Constable Mark Herman:
This morning at 2am, the Precinct 4 Constable’s Office responded to a male disturbance call in the 12400 block of Saratoga Wood Lane in the Atascocita area.
While arriving at the scene a male emerged from the home with a shot gun and fired about two times engaging four of our deputies in a gun fight.
Deputy Christopher Gaines was struck in his lower extremities by the shot gun blast.
Deputy Faniyi was struck by what we believe to be a shot gun pellet in the head, and a third deputy who took evasive action received minor injuries.
Deputy Gaines was flown by helicopter to Hermann Hospital downtown in stable condition and is currently in surgery.
UPDATE ON OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTING!!
Constable Mark Herman and his staff are currently at Memorial Hermann Hospital. Our Constable Deputy is in stable condition and is expected to undergo surgery at any time.
Please keep our hero in your thoughts and prayers!! pic.twitter.com/3BXp6lHP6o
— Mark Herman, Harris County Constable Precinct 4 (@Pct4Constable) April 17, 2018
Deputy Faniyi was transported to a hospital in Humble and received nine stitches to his head. The third deputy was also evaluated and released from a Humble hospital.
The suspect was transported to Hermann Hospital downtown and is being treated in the room next to Deputy Gaines.
We were told the suspect sustained 22 entry and exit wounds from the return gun fire of four deputies during the gun fight. He was still alive at the time of this release.
“I am very humbled and honored to work with these heroes who bravely stood together and not only protected a fallen deputy, but also put down the suspect when he engaged them in a gun battle.” -Constable Mark Herman
Please take a moment to say a prayer for these deputies and their families.
Editor’s note: Our thoughts and prayers are with Deputy Gaines, and the other deputies injured in this incident. Thank you for your bravery.
