UPDATE: Chief Art Acevedo gives press conference.
While still with holding the names of the injured undercover officers, Chief Acevedo released the identities of the two dead suspects during a press conference Tuesday morning.
The suspects have been revealed as Rhogena Nicholas, a 58-year-old white female, and Dennis Tuttle, a 59-year-old white male. Their criminal history is still under investigation.
Traces of marijuana and a drug suspected to be cocaine were found at the scene along with two shotguns and two rifles.
During the press conference, Chief Acevedo was asked to comment on some political issues.
When asked about gun control, he said, "Crooks are gonna be crooks. The question is what are we in society and what are elected officials gonna do to help make it tough on those crooks?"
Because of the large Hispanic population of the area in which the crime took place, Acevedo was asked about the relationships between his department and the community.
"We don't care about your immigration status," he replied. "Because we rely on them, they're witnesses..."
He also preemptively responded to those who disagree with his stance.
"The person that's selling [drugs] to the immigrant community today is selling it to the blue-blooded, blue-eyed, blonde-haired community members tomorrow. And guess what? The life that saves the life of one of your loved ones when people come forward and trust us to take action."
ORIGINAL POST
At 5 p.m. on Monday evening, a drugs investigation turned into a firefight in southeast Houston, TX.
Police had been called to investigate a house suspected to be occupied by black tar heroin dealers.
According to Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo, "Immediately upon reaching the door, the officers came under fire from one or two suspects inside the house."
The chief offered assurances in a news conference that "no officer [had] died."
Two officers are currently in "critical, but stable condition" and two of the other officers are being held for observation. The two suspects were pronounced dead at the scene.
Liaison Twitter profile Walk With Blue gave an update shortly after the events:
#Houston Update: five Officers shot; warrant; Narc Unit; one critical; one Officer life flighted; two by ambulance; one other life flight just took off; one life flight still on the ground at scene. ?????????? ~M cr: click2houston live feed
— Walk With Blue (@BlueWalkPoconos) January 28, 2019
The names of the officers were not released, though descriptions of age and years of service were provided. Among the injured were two 50-year-old sergeants and a 54-year-old officer. There has been no released information about the suspects at this time.
The Houston Police Department had an update on the officers' conditions Monday night via Twitter.
UPDATE on our officers: one officer shot in the shoulder has been released. 2 officers in critical condition & 2 others are in good condition. None of them will be released from the hospital tonite. One of the officers sustained a knee injury & isn’t believed to have been shot.
— Houston Police (@houstonpolice) January 29, 2019
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