Incident at North Houston Check-Cashing Business
A robbery attempt at an Ace Cash Express in north Houston turned violent Monday morning when a suspect held an employee at gunpoint and used her as a human shield, according to the Houston Police Department. The incident happened around 8:30 a.m. off West Greens Road near I-45.
Rapid Police Response
HPD Sgt. Luis Menendez-Sierra told our news partner ABC13 Houston that officers responded within minutes to a panic hold-up alarm. When the first patrol unit arrived, the officer saw a male suspect and a female employee inside the business.
Confrontation Outside the Store
Police said the suspect forced the woman outside with a gun pressed to her back. An officer fired at the suspect, striking him multiple times. Once he fell, officers moved in and secured the scene. The suspect was taken to a nearby hospital.
Employee Unharmed
The employee, who had just arrived to open the store, was not injured. “She’s an innocent bystander in this whole situation,” Sgt. Menendez-Sierra said.
Robbery Trends in the Area
HPD crime data shows 21 commercial robberies within a five-mile radius over the past month, slightly fewer than the 25 reported during the same period last year.
Suspect Not Yet Identified
Police have not released the suspect’s name and say it appears he did not steal anything during the attempted robbery.
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