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Version 3 Version 4
1 Dead and Multiple Hostages Rescued in Houston F.B.I. Operation Suspect Dead After Hostages Rescued in Houston F.B.I. Operation
(about 4 hours later)
A hostage rescue in Houston that lasted several days ended on Thursday with one person fatally shot and involved federal and local law enforcement officials in North Houston, the F.B.I. said in a statement on Thursday. A hostage rescue in Houston that lasted several days ended on Thursday with one suspect shot dead and a second suspect in custody, the F.B.I. said.
All of the hostages had been “safely rescued,” the F.B.I. said. The agency said one person had died after “an agent-involved shooting,” and that none of its personnel were injured. The federal agency had been working to rescue two hostages held in a Motel 6 in the Houston area when the shooting happened at about 4:30 a.m., James Smith, the special agent in charge of the F.B.I.’s Houston office, said at a news conference on Thursday.
The F.B.I. released few other details and did not answer questions about the shooting or the nature of the hostage situation. The agency’s Houston office said on Twitter that “no additional information” would be provided for now, and that no news conferences were planned. Mr. Smith said that the two hostages had been “safely rescued,” and that the second suspect was detained by the Harris County Sheriff’s Department. “No agents were injured,” he added. “At this time, there is no threat to public safety.”
A prosecutor told The Associated Press on Thursday that the situation began days ago when three migrants were kidnapped from a vehicle in a neighboring county.A prosecutor told The Associated Press on Thursday that the situation began days ago when three migrants were kidnapped from a vehicle in a neighboring county.
They had been riding in a vehicle in Waller County, northwest of Houston, on March 18, when they were stopped by an unknown number of people and forced into another vehicle, Sean Whittmore, a prosecutor with the Waller County District Attorney’s Office, told The A.P. They had been riding in a vehicle in Waller County, northwest of Houston, on March 18, when they were stopped by an unknown number of people and forced into another vehicle, Sean Whittmore, a Waller County prosecutor, told The A.P.
Mr. Whittmore told The A.P. that the driver of the vehicle originally carrying the migrants called the police about the kidnapping.Mr. Whittmore told The A.P. that the driver of the vehicle originally carrying the migrants called the police about the kidnapping.
The F.B.I. did not respond to a request for comment on Thursday afternoon about the possible kidnapping. Details about the people, including what country they were from, were unclear on Thursday. The F.B.I. did not respond to a request for comment on Thursday afternoon or disclose any details about the hostages, including what country they were from, at its news conference.
The agency said its shooting incident review team would “conduct a thorough, factual, and objective investigation of the events.” The agency said in a statement that its shooting incident review team would investigate.
“In the interest of protecting the investigation’s integrity, we cannot provide any further details at this time,” the F.B.I. said.
The F.B.I. said it was assisting the Waller County Sheriff’s Office. Waller County is adjacent to Harris County, where the operation took place. The Harris County Sheriff’s Office, which oversees the Houston area, declined to comment about the situation on Thursday.The F.B.I. said it was assisting the Waller County Sheriff’s Office. Waller County is adjacent to Harris County, where the operation took place. The Harris County Sheriff’s Office, which oversees the Houston area, declined to comment about the situation on Thursday.
On Thursday morning, multiple law enforcement officials were at the scene on Esplanade Boulevard, near Greenspoint Drive in North Houston, a local news station, Fox26, reported.On Thursday morning, multiple law enforcement officials were at the scene on Esplanade Boulevard, near Greenspoint Drive in North Houston, a local news station, Fox26, reported.
Law enforcement officials were at a motel in the area, southeast of Interstate 45 and the Sam Houston Tollway, according to KHOU, a local news station.Law enforcement officials were at a motel in the area, southeast of Interstate 45 and the Sam Houston Tollway, according to KHOU, a local news station.
The motel, Studio 6, said in a statement on Thursday that it was working with law enforcement in the investigation.The motel, Studio 6, said in a statement on Thursday that it was working with law enforcement in the investigation.
“Our thoughts are with the victims’ families,” the company said.“Our thoughts are with the victims’ families,” the company said.
Motel 6, which operates the Studio 6 chain, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Thursday.