Gunman in Galleria mall shooting remains on the run, HPD says

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — The Houston Police Department is looking for the man who shot another man in the leg and got into a shootout with an officer at the Galleria mall.

It happened just before 7:50 p.m. Friday. Houston Police Chief Troy Finner said off-duty officers got a call about a shooting inside the mall near the food court.

Finner said the suspect shot another man in the leg as he was walking into the parking garage near West Alabama.

That’s when the suspect ran off into the garage.

“When the suspect saw the officer, he immediately fired upon the officer,” explained Finner during a briefing with reporters Friday night. “The officer took cover and fired back at the suspect a few times. He’s not sure if he struck the suspect or not.”

The officer wasn’t hurt and the man who was shot by the suspect in the garage is recovering at the hospital.

The gunman remains on the run. Finner described him as a Black male in his early 20s. He was seen wearing a white shirt paired with black pants and was reportedly carrying a crossbody bag.

The mall was locked down for a few hours as officers searched for the suspect, who they believe is no longer in the area.

When asked if it’s safe to return to the mall over the weekend, Finner said yes and believes this is an isolated incident.

“It’s just unfortunate,” said Finner. “It just doesn’t make any sense. But I’ll say this … our citizens, the majority of our people, are good people. They really are. We just have to, as a city, focus in on these violent criminals, just like this knucklehead [Friday night.] It’s really frustrating. You’ve got kids, you’ve got families in the mall and you’re shooting at somebody. It makes no sense, but just like the other suspects, we’re coming after you. Plain and simple.”

Eyewitness News reached out to The Galleria for a comment, but has not heard back.