Julian Gill
Houston Chronicle
GARDEN OAKS, Texas — A constable deputy who was shot during a robbery of a Five Guys Wednesday night has had successful surgery and is expected to make a full recovery, officials said Thursday.
Jeff McShan, spokesman for the Harris County Pct. 5 Constable’s office, said the 39-year-old deputy suffered a gunshot wound to the arm. No one else was injured in the shooting, reported about 8:25 p.m. at the restaurant in the 2900 block of North Shepherd, just north of 610 North Loop.
The shooter fled the scene and has not been arrested, officials said. McShan said canines traced his scent to an alley behind the restaurant, and witnesses saw a white Dodge Charger driving from the scene.
The deputy, who has been with the agency for 12 years, was working an extra security job at the eatery when a man, armed with a pistol, began robbing patrons and employees of the restaurant, Houston police said.
The deputy, however, couldn’t engage the man because there were customers inside, police said.
“The deputy had to wait because you can’t shoot into the building,” Houston police Assistant Chief James Jones said, adding that the deputy didn’t appear to fire a shot. “It’s a very difficult situation, and he did the best he could with what he had.”
The gunman was robbing the customers and appeared to be going for the cash register when he spotted the deputy outside, police said. He fired at least four rounds through the window, striking the deputy at least once. A vest may have caught a bullet, police said.
“He’s very lucky and very fortunate that he’s going to be OK,” Jones said.
The suspect was described as a man wearing a green and white track suit suit. He looked to be around 6 feet tall, police said. He was wearing a mask at the time.