Houston police arrest suspect in killing of officer responding to a call for help on his way to work
HOUSTON, Texas — Houston police arrested a suspect in Monday’s fatal shooting of an officer, the fourth officer in the department killed since December of last year and the second in the past few weeks.
Robert Soliz, 24, was arrested Tuesday afternoon and is being charged with murder, Houston Police Department Chief Art Acevedo said at a press conference.
Sgt. Sean Rios, 47, was on his way to work around 1:30 p.m. when he responded to a call for help, Acevedo said Monday.
The call alleged shots had been fired and that someone was injured, according to the chief. Rios responded to the scene and engaged the suspect. Gunfire was exchanged and Rios was shot, Acevedo said.
Wounded, Rios ran to a nearby motel seeking help but collapsed in the lobby. “Sadly, he was pronounced deceased at the scene,” the chief said.
Soliz is not cooperating with police, Acevedo said. Police are still searching for a second person, described as a person of interest, he said.
CNN is attempting to identify an attorney for Soliz.
Rios was a 25-year veteran with the department, according to Acevedo.
He leaves behind four children between the ages of 9 and 17, along with his parents and brother, as well as two cousins who are also officers for the department, the chief said.
Acevedo said investigators have located one vehicle involved in the shooting and have the description of a second one in connection to the incident.
On Monday, the chief implored anyone involved in the shooting to turn themselves in to avoid any further bloodshed.
“We’re going to capture you. So, do yourself a favor and turn yourself in because we are going to catch you,” Acevedo said. “We have leads and we’re going to catch you. And the best thing you can do if you know this person is have them turn themselves in or call the police, so we have no more bloodshed.”
“If you are rendering assistance to this individual or individuals you are committing a crime. And so, have them turn themselves in, turn yourself in because we are going to solve this case,” he added.
“This is a tragic case and it’s just been a very rough year in our city,” Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said during the news conference.
“I’m asking the city to pray for this family to lift them up. And then I want the city to pray for the police officers,” Turner said. And then I want people in this city to pray for this city because this has been a crazy year.”
At the time of the killing, Turner was holding a news conference to address an uptick in violence in his city and introducing the Domestic Violence and Crisis Intervention Response Initiative.
Turner said at that news conference that Houston citizens are facing higher stress because of the Covid-19 pandemic, job loss and health concerns. He noted that domestic violence and service calls as well as suicide calls have increased throughout the year.
