Houston police said no suspect or vehicle description was immediately available.
HOUSTON, Texas — An off-duty Harris County sheriff’s deputy was shot early Sunday while asleep inside his north Houston home, where family members, including two children, were also present, authorities said.
The shooting sent the 40-year-old deputy to a hospital for surgery and left Houston police searching for the person or people who fired into the home. The Harris County Sheriff’s Office said the deputy is a three-year veteran assigned to its Patrol Division.
Houston police said officers were sent at 1:06 a.m. to a reported drive-by shooting at a home on Burress Street near Bauman Road. Officers found the deputy in bed with gunshot wounds to his abdomen. Houston Fire EMS took him to a nearby hospital, where officials said he underwent surgery and was later recovering in fair condition.
The sheriff’s office said the deputy appeared to have been struck in “what appears to be a random act of violence.” Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said the agency’s thoughts were with the deputy and his family. Officials did not release the deputy’s name. Police also did not say how many shots were fired or whether investigators had recovered shell casings near the home.
Investigators said the deputy’s family was inside the house when the gunfire erupted. No other injuries were reported. Police said they had no immediate suspect description and no description of a suspect vehicle. Officers were checking the area for witnesses and surveillance video as they worked to learn whether the home was targeted or struck by random gunfire.
The Houston Police Department is leading the investigation because the shooting happened inside city limits. The sheriff’s office confirmed the wounded man is one of its deputies but did not announce any internal law enforcement action beyond support for the family. No arrests had been announced as of Monday morning.
The shooting drew concern from law enforcement officials because the deputy was off duty and inside his own home when he was hit. The case also left neighbors and investigators focused on the Burress Street area, where police were trying to piece together what happened before and after the shots were fired.
As of Monday, the deputy remained in fair condition after surgery. Houston police continued to lead the case, with the next major update expected when investigators identify a suspect, a vehicle or a motive.
Author note: Last updated April 27, 2026.