End of Watch: Arrest made in shooting murder of Houston Police Sgt. Sean Rios
Houston Police Sgt. Sean Rios, 47, father of four, was shot and killed on the afternoon of November 9 when he responded to a call for help on his way to work. Around 1:30 p.m., police started receiving reports of multiple shots fired, according to Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo.
Sgt. Rios responded to the scene, engaged the suspect and was wounded in the exchange of gunfire.
Acevedo said investigators are still trying to determine why Sgt. Sean Rios, 47, a 25-year veteran of HPD, engaged someone in a gun battle. He said Rios was hit during the exchange of gunfire and ran to a nearby motel for help. Rios collapsed and died at the scene, Acevedo said. ~ Click 2 Houston
Leading up to the shooting was an incident between two vehicles. One of the men involved in that incident was believed to be the man that shot Rios. About 24 hours after Sgt. Rios was shot and killed, the shooting suspect was apprehended. A video surveillance image captured during the incident shows the murder suspect below in the white T-shirt.
Arrest Made
Video Press Conference
The murder suspect Robert Soliz, 24, was arrested on November 10 at approximately 3:15 p.m. during a traffic stop on the Katy Freeway. Soliz, who has a criminal history and list of arrests dating back to 2014, was charged with murder and booked into the Harris County Jail.
Records show Soliz was arrested several times, with charges that range from having marijuana on him to evading arrest and criminal trespass. In 2017, Soliz was accused of threatening his girlfriend at the time with murder. ~ KTRK News in Texas
Sgt. Rios had served with the Houston Police Department for 25 years. He is survived by four children between the ages of 9 and 17, his parents, his brother, and two cousins who also serve with the Houston Police Department.
From Houston Police Department’s Chief Art Acevedo: “Our hearts are broken over the death of HPD Sergeant Sean Rios who was shot and killed during an exchange of gunfire this afternoon. We will never forget him and will see his 4 children, family and friends through this painful loss. RIP”
For more on the story, see the video accompanying this article.
~ Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today / Connect with Richard on Facebook and Twitter
