Cop opens fire at downtown Starbucks

A Houston police officer shot a suspect about 9:25 a.m. Thursday at a Stabucks coffee shop at 1000 Dallas near Main. A Houston police officer shot a suspect about 9:25 a.m. Thursday at a Stabucks coffee shop at 1000 Dallas near Main. Image 1 of / 6 Caption Close Cop opens fire at downtown Starbucks 1 / 6 Back to Gallery

A Houston police officer shot a suspected thief Thursday morning outside a downtown coffee shop.

The suspect, whose name has not been released, was shot in the arm about 9:30 a.m. outside the Starbucks at 1000 Dallas near Main, said Victor Senties, a spokesman for the Houston Police Department. The suspect was taken to Memorial Hermann Hospital and is expected to survive, Senties said.

The officer, identified as S. Gallagher, was not hurt.

Senties said Gallagher, who was on duty but in plain clothes, was in the Starbucks when a worker told him a man had just stolen some merchandise. Gallagher, who has been with HPD since 2010, followed the man outside. He identified himself as a Houston police officer and repeatedly told the man to stop, according to Senties.

The man stopped and swung his fists at Gallagher and also picked up a piece of wood and swung it at the officer's head, Senties said.

Fearing for his safety, Gallagher fired at least one shot, hitting the man in the arm, Senties said. Senties said it was unclear what the man had alledgedly taken from the Starbucks.

A man who identified himself only as Muhammad said he saw the man and officer walking together along the sidewalk away from the Starbucks.

The witness said the man appeared to be concealing or holding something beneath his arm under his jacket. The man walk back toward the store and the officer followed him. That's when Muhammad said he heard one or two gunshots.

Muhammad said the gunfire startled him.

"It's rare for downtown," he said.

As is customary in officer-involved shootings, the HPD Internal Affairs and Homicide divisions as well as the Harris County District Attorney's Office will investigate.

Gallagher, Senties said, will be placed on three-days administrative duties, which is common in officer-involved shootings.

As of late Thursday, no charges have been filed against the man, Senties said. He could face charges ranging from theft to aggravated assault of peace officer, the spokesman said.