HOUSTON, Texas — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton Tuesday evening identified two agents from his office, which is based in Austin, who were shot while they were serving a warrant in Houston.
“This afternoon, Captain Wes Hensley and Sergeant Mark Rychen from the Fugitive Apprehension Unit in my office were shot and wounded while serving an arrest warrant on a suspect in Northeast Harris County," Paxton said. "A deputy from the Harris County Sheriff’s Department was also shot. These brave and courageous law enforcement officers were fulfilling their call to duty to apprehend a known criminal with a dangerous past."
The Harris County Sheriff's Office said several agents were serving a warrant for family violence, specifically a violation of a protection order, when the suspect allegedly began to fire. The Harris County deputy was identified by family members as James Robert Smejkal III.
The sheriff's office said at least one of the attorney general's agents were on assignment from Austin.
Harris County officials said all three received non-life-threatening injuries. Earlier reports had said it was likely that Smejkal would lose a finger, but it seems doctors were able to save it. One of the agents from the Texas Attorney General's Office was shot in the foot while the other was shot in the torso, leg and face.
At a press conference outside of Ben Taub Hospital, officials said the agent who was shot multiple times was in good spirits, even making a joke while being treated. It is unclear which or if both agents were from Austin.
Officials said the suspect, 25-year-old Daniel Trevino, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was found dead around 6:15 p.m. after holing up in a residence in a SWAT standoff that lasted a few hours.
A fourth official, a motorcycle deputy, was injured in an accident on the Eastex Freeway feeder road while they were escorting one of the ambulances leaving the scene. He is expected to be OK.
The Texas Office of the Attorney General released the following statement:
“This afternoon, two of our officers from the Office of Attorney General’s Fugitive Apprehension Unit were wounded while serving an arrest warrant alongside a deputy from the Harris County Sheriff’s Department. The three wounded officers have been transported to a local hospital and are currently receiving treatment. Out of respect for the officers and their families and for those who are still engaged in a very serious situation in Northeast Harris County, we will release no further information at this time. Please pray for these officers, their families, and the courageous members of law enforcement who are involved.”
"I’m asking all Texans tonight to pray for those recovering, their families, and all the men and women in law enforcement who face unpredictable dangers each day to keep Texans safe,” Paxton said.