The deputy, a three-year HCSO veteran, was hospitalized in fair condition.
HOUSTON, Texas — Houston police are investigating after an off-duty Harris County sheriff’s deputy was wounded by gunfire while sleeping in his north Houston home early Sunday, officials said.
The shooting happened while the deputy’s family was home, including two children. Authorities said the deputy, 40, was struck in the abdomen and taken by Houston Fire EMS to a hospital, where he underwent surgery. Officials later described his condition as fair.
Police said North Patrol officers were dispatched at 1:06 a.m. to a drive-by shooting call in the 200 block of Burress Street near Bauman Road. When officers arrived, they found the off-duty deputy in his bed with gunshot wounds. Officials have not said whether bullets entered through a window, wall or door.
The Harris County Sheriff’s Office said the wounded deputy has served with the agency for three years and is assigned to the Patrol Division. The agency said he was asleep when he was shot and described the shooting as what appeared to be a random act of violence. Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said the deputy and his family were in the agency’s thoughts.
No suspect had been identified by Monday morning. Houston police said there was no immediate description of a suspect or suspect vehicle. Investigators were reviewing the scene and canvassing the neighborhood for video and witnesses. Officials did not announce a motive and did not say whether the deputy’s law enforcement job had any connection to the shooting.
The case is being handled by the Houston Police Department, while the Harris County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed the victim’s employment and assignment. Authorities have not released the deputy’s name, and police have not reported charges. The lack of a vehicle description remained one of the main challenges for investigators.
The shooting added urgency to the search for evidence along Burress Street. A home became the center of a police response in the middle of the night, with investigators working around a scene where children and other family members had been present when the gunfire hit the deputy.
By Monday, officials said the deputy was recovering after surgery. The investigation remained active, and police had not announced when more details would be released.
Author note: Last updated April 27, 2026.