Houston Police Officer Terry Smith Shot in Back in Houston, Texas

WHY WE ALWAYS SAY, THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A ROUTINE TRAFFIC STOP FOR THE POLICE …

Terry Smith, a police officer with the Houston Police Department was shot in the back during a traffic stop on Tuesday around 6 PM in the 4200 block of Main Street near Midtown across from South Main Baptist Church. The incident occurred after the vehicle the officer pulled over had drove away and Smith was chatting with a METRO police officer. Suddenly, Smith felt a pain in his back, he had been shot.  Smith was transported to Memorial Hermann Hospital, where he underwent surgery and is expected to make a full recovery. Smith is a 20-year HPD veteran and father of six children. The incident is under investigation.

An officer with the Houston Police Department was shot during a traffic stop Tuesday.

Police said the shooting happened around 6 p.m. in the 4200 block of Main Street near Midtown across from South Main Baptist Church, near a Sears parking lot. Police said they have no indication that anyone saw the shooter.

Investigators said the officer was shot in the back. The officer has been identified as Terry Smith, who is a motorcycle officer.

The driver Smith pulled over had already left the scene and the officer was chatting with a METRO police officer when he was shot.

“The officer was putting away his ticket book and stuff he needed for the traffic stop,” HPD Capt. Dwayne Ready said. “He was leaning over into his saddlebag when they heard the pop and it was shortly there after that he felt pain.”

Officers are gathering surveillance footage from nearby cameras, hoping to find evidence that could lead them to the mysterious shooter.