Houston police kill 2 suspects outside shopping center

A bullet hole is seen at an Affordable Furniture store in the 11300 block of the North Freeway, the morning after Houston Police shot and killed two people and injured a third when they confronted a group of five men during an alleged robbery, Friday, March 18, in Houston. ( Jon Shapley / Houston Chronicle ) less A bullet hole is seen at an Affordable Furniture store in the 11300 block of the North Freeway, the morning after Houston Police shot and killed two people and injured a third when they confronted a group of ... more Image 1 of / 6 Caption Close Houston police kill 2 suspects outside shopping center 1 / 6 Back to Gallery

Police shot and killed two people and wounded a third who officials said were suspects in a robbery Thursday night outside a shopping center in north Houston.

Houston Police Department officials said the men were under surveillance for about 24 hours because of a possible connection to other robberies.

HPD spokesman John Cannon said that throughout the day the men had been changing vehicles. Police lost contact with them shortly before the hold-up but then spotted them coming out of a furniture store Thursday night, authorities said.

At about 6:45 p.m., three men had forced their way into an Affordable Furniture in the 11300 block of the North Freeway. They left a few minutes later and were immediately confronted by Houston police officers.

The officers spotted their firearms and ordered them to surrender.

"At least two of the suspects pointed weapons at the officers," Cannon said. "They were shot."

Gunfire erupted in the parking lot. HPD officials said five officers opened fire at the three men who went into the store and two who were still outside.

None of the Houston police officers was injured.

Two of the robbery suspects were killed at the scene. One was wounded and taken to an area hospital in unknown condition. Another received a minor grazing wound and was treated at the scene. A fifth person was not injured and is in custody.

The five HPD officers who fired were identified as: K. Huey, a 20-year HPD veteran; J. Williams, 10 years with the force; B. LeBlanc, seven years on the force; J. Calhoun, nine years with HPD, and R. Caldera, three years with HPD.

They are all members of the department's north division tactical unit.

Store owner Taj Ali, who was not there during the hold-up, said three men wore masks over their faces. He said they confronted an on-duty worker outside the business and forced her inside. He said they pointed a gun at her and asked if the store had a safe.

"She didn't have the key, and we don't keep any money in it," Ali said.

"Then, one of them hollered 'let's go' and that was the end of the story," Ali said.

Later, the body of one of the men was found on the ground in front of a Sherwin-Williams paint store in the shopping center while a second was next to a car parked nearby.

Crime scene evidence markers were scattered throughout the parking lot.

Police said two people believed to be linked to the hold-up were still being questioned.

Although the store owner said at least one of the suspects was armed, HPD officials have not yet confirmed whether they actually opened fire at the police officers.

Houston police homicide and internal affairs detectives are investigating, along with the Harris County District Attorney's Office, which is protocol during any officer-involved shooting.

Police shootings have been in the spotlight lately. Last weekend, in what should have been routine encounters with law enforcement, two men were left dead and another was in critical condition after Houston-area officers fired their weapons on three occasions in less than 24 hours.

Read this: Two people shot dead by officers identified

In all three incidents, the officers first deployed Tasers, which had little effect. The dead and injured were reportedly unarmed.

Legal action: Lawsuit alleges Houston police condone lethal force by officers