Thankful Rockets rally behind Carl Landry after shooting Rockets' Landry shot in leg

Assault follows return from team's New Orleans trip

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In the aftermath of Carl Landry’s shooting early Tuesday, his Houston Rockets teammates were frightened and relieved, yet determined not to let the incident dramatically alter their lifestyles.

“It’s scary,” said forward Shane Battier. “This is a guy we were joking and riding with on the plane just hours before. My feeling is thankfulness that he’s going to be OK.

“You have to be careful and be aware of your surroundings. Even then, there’s no guarantee you’re safe. But I’m not going to lock myself in my house with an arsenal of weapons.”

Landry, 25, suffered a gunshot wound to his lower left leg Tuesday morning in a possible drive-by shooting or failed robbery near downtown, police said. He was released after treatment at Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center.

“I’m just thankful that he’s all right,” said Rockets head coach Rick Adelman. “It’s just a situation that all of us have to be aware of. It’s not the same world it was 10 years ago. You’re just thankful that it’s not something more serious.”

Rockets general manager Daryl Morey called the leg injury a surface wound in Landry’s left calf and said the player also suffered a dislocated finger on his left hand. He said Landry is expected to be able to return to practice in one to three weeks.

“Dr. (Tom) Clanton (the Rockets’ team physician) examined him early,” Morey said. “I was in the hospital with Carl. … Right now, we’re focused on him and his family and the fact that he’s OK; that’s where our players’ hearts are as well. I can’t answer any detailed questions because it’s an ongoing investigation.”

Landry hit, ran for help

Rockets forward Carl Landry was in a jovial mood at practice nearly two weeks after suffering a gunshot wound. Rockets forward Carl Landry was in a jovial mood at practice nearly two weeks after suffering a gunshot wound. Photo: Eric Kayne, Houston Chronicle Photo: Eric Kayne, Houston Chronicle Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Thankful Rockets rally behind Carl Landry after shooting 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

Landry and the rest of the Rockets had just returned from New Orleans after their 95-84 victory over the Hornets. The team’s charter flight landed at Hobby Airport shortly after midnight, according to a team spokesman. The incident happened in the 2900 block of Leeland, a short distance southeast of downtown, at about 2:30 a.m., Houston police said.

According to senior officers D.W. Arnold and R.A. Moreno of the Houston police homicide division, Landry was driving southbound on Leeland with a female passenger when a gray Honda Civic, traveling northbound, swerved into Landry’s lane and sideswiped his sport utility vehicle.

Landry made a partial U-turn near Palmer Street, and the Honda also turned around and again struck Landry’s SUV, causing it to hit a wooden utility pole and stop, the officers said.

After Landry got out, two men got out of the Honda, and one of them pulled a pistol from his back pocket and fired twice, police said. After being hit, Landry ran for help, they said. The two men ran after Landry for a short distance before giving up and running away, police said. The woman in Landry’s SUV was not injured, they said.

Landry described the attackers as Hispanic men in their early- to mid-20s, about 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighing 150 to 160 pounds. They had short black hair and wore all-black clothing, he said.

Landry was unavailable for comment, but Rockets guard Aaron Brooks spoke to him.

“I had a little conversation, and he told me some of the stuff that went on,” Brooks said. “He just sounded happy, blessed. It was a situation that pretty much anybody could have been in. He’s just blessed that he’s alive, and he’ll be back and he’ll be Carl again.”

Police asked that anyone with information about the shooting call the homicide division at 713-308-3974 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS. All callers to Crime Stoppers remain anonymous.

fran.blinebury@chron.com

mike.glenn@chron.com