The Harris County Sheriff’s Office in Houston, Texas, has issued a blue alert instigating a search for two suspects accused of gunning down a deputy during a traffic stop last night.
The cops have released the images of 34-year-old Terran Green and 37-year-old James Green, who are accused of shooting an unnamed male 29-year-old deputy on Homestead Road in the northeast of Houston.
Sheriff Ed Gonzalez explained that the deputy had engaged in a routine traffic stop but was shot at least twice in the upper torso. Multiple witnesses contacted 911 to say an officer had been shot.
Emergency medical staff were soon at the scene, and the officer was airlifted to the hospital, where his condition was described as critical but stable.
According to Gonzalez, the deputy, who was alone at the time of the incident, has been with the sheriff’s office for one year and three months. The reason for the traffic stop and the motive behind the shooting is currently unknown.
The two suspects fled the scene in a blue SUV, a 2016 Ford Escape with Texas license number SVJ6950. During the night, the car was found at an apartment garage on Airtex Avenue, about ten miles away from the crime scene.
Terran Green and James Green wanted by Harris County deputies
One suspect, Terran Green, is described as a Black man, about 5 ft 4 inches tall, with black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a gray shirt and black shorts.
Watch the Latest on our YouTube ChannelThe second suspect, James Green (it’s currently unknown if the pair are related), is described as Black, 5 ft 6 inches, with black hair and brown eyes.
Sheriff Gonzales told a press conference that his deputy was “out doing his job . . . keeping us safe” when he was shot.
The at-times emotional sheriff told the press, “It’s unacceptable, and we’re not going to tolerate it.” He stressed that the suspects should be considered armed and dangerous, and they are determined to get them off the streets.
The sheriff also thanked the community and other law enforcement agencies for their help and support. He asked the public to send their prayers to the wounded deputy and his family.
Multiple law enforcement agencies are involved in the hunt for the two suspects after Harris County issued a Blue Alert appealing for help on The National Blue Alert Network.
What is a Blue Alert? Harris County deputies issue appeal for help
The Blue Alert network is invoked when a member of law enforcement is killed, injured, or apprehended. The network aims to assist in the rapid apprehension of perpetrators by rapidly disseminating information about criminals to other law enforcement agencies and the public.
The cops use cellphones, television, radio, and other devices to spread information as quickly as possible to aid in the capture of a criminal or recover an abducted officer. It is the same principle as used in Amber Alerts, which are deployed when a child is considered to be in danger.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Terran Green or James Green is asked to call the Harris County Sheriff’s Office at 713-221-6000.