Agent Shot in Botched Robbery Attempt

HOUSTON - A shootout in front of a Houston Galleria-area hotel sends two people to the hospital including a Texas Alcohol Beverage Commission agent.

Houston police responded to a robbery in progress on Friday afternoon at the Hilton Garden Inn at the 3200 block of Sage Road in southwest Houston.

TABC agent Michael Sehon was working an off-duty security job for a jewelry salesman when the two men stopped at the hotel to run an errand.

While the jeweler went inside the hotel, Sehon stayed inside the car when he was approached by two masked men.

"They broke out the window and placed a gun to the TABC agent’s head," said Houston Police Department spokeswoman Jodi Silva.

The 40-year-old agent was shot in the left leg above the knee. He was taken to Memorial Hermann hospital but was released several hours later.

"He seemed okay, considering the situation he just went through," said TABC Captain Rick Cruz.

Police say the agent did shoot at least one of the suspects. The pistol packing pair drove away from the hotel in a maroon sedan, but officers believe that they may have switched cars at the apartment complex across the street where blood now stains the pavement.

"You don’t expect anything like this to happen on this side of town," said apartment resident Cynthia Watson.

Police think they might already have one of the suspects in custody. A man with two gunshot wounds to the back was left at Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital soon after the shooting took place. Police are questioning the man. His condition is not known.

Sehon is a 5-year veteran of the TABC. Captain Cruz says his agents get the same weapon training as regular police officers.