Interrupt a sheriff's deputy's beer? Prepare for a hailstorm of lead!

Houston Press ^ | February 5, 2004 | Richard Connelly

[Dog Gone]

When Harris County sheriff's deputies return fire, they really return fire. Especially if they're at a bar.

The December 27 drive-by shooting at the venerable West Alabama Ice House didn't get much notice from the media, it being just another bit of the gunplay that tends to liven up a night on the town here.

But gee, it sounds like it was fun.

Three off-duty deputies were at the icehouse about midnight, and things seemed quiet enough. Then a 1992 Ford pickup truck screamed down the street, with two twentysomethings in it, one of whom started firing a .22-caliber pistol.

The cops tried to get the license plate but couldn't, so they settled back to their table. Soon they heard the telltale sounds indicating the truck was about to make a second pass. "By that time the guys had loaded up and said, 'If he comes back again, forget about it, we're returning fire,' " says Burt Springer, the lawyer representing two of the deputies.

And did they ever. Somewhere around 40 shots' worth. Investigators reportedly ran out of the little markers used to identify spent shell casings and had to borrow paper cups. Basically, Springer says, the deputies emptied their guns.

Not to put too fine a point on it, but…all the shots missed. The truck was shot up like Swiss cheese, but neither the driver nor the trigger-happy passenger was hit. They were stopped a mile or so later -- not because they were driving a truck riddled with bullet holes, but because they ran a red light.

(Deputies do have to keep up their target-shooting qualifications in Harris County, but those tests are not taken in bars.)

Sheriff's spokesman Lieutenant Robert Van Pelt says the department's internal affairs division is still looking into the incident, but Springer thinks nothing will come of it. Since no one was hit, the district attorney's office did not send anyone to the scene, making a grand jury review more unlikely.

Springer says the deputies had been at the bar only a short time and weren't drunk. Not that it would matter: "Even police officers who've been drinking are allowed to defend themselves," he says.

If only they could aim.

[Fixit]

!

[Reelect President Dubya]

What do you expect?

Houston is part of Texas.

Sort of.

[taxcontrol]

40+ plus rounds MISSED!!!!?????

Man, give these guys a couple thousand rounds and a week at the range!

[Prodigal Son]

They were stopped a mile or so later -- not because they were driving a truck riddled with bullet holes, but because they ran a red light.

I think I understand why they ran that red light.

They were trying to get the hell out of Dodge.

[the invisib1e hand]

I trust that, had they really wanted to hit the vehicle's occupants, they would have.

[templar]

"Even police officers who've been drinking are allowed to defend themselves," he says.

Wonder what would have happened in this case if they were private citizens?

[aomagrat]

Spray and pray. Back when the wheel gun ruled, we were taught to aim. Now it's just spray bullets and pray you hit something.

[razorback-bert]

If it is the icehouse, I am thinking of, it isn't in a bad part of town.

Going to have to give those deputies bigger "clips".

[dark_lord]

Yes. I think they achieved the effect they intended.

[BallyBill]

Yee Ha!! A round of Buds, now Lock and Load. I'm surprised they didn't grab a six pack and go after them.

[Shooter 2.5]

As long as the forty shots all hit the vehicle that's great. Some guys may have aimed at the tires or the engine.
Anyone participatiing in a drive-by shooting should be charged with attempted murder.

[cpdiii]

It is harder to get through a car door with a 45 ACP, 9MM or 357 than think.

[chaosagent]

Yeah, but most ranges don't train you on hitting the passengers in a vehicle moving at 50-60 mph in the dark from 50-75 feet away.

Considering the article said the vehicle was riddled like Swiss Cheese, I think they did a pretty good job It was just sheer bad (good?) luck they didn't hit someone.

And it probably scared the crap out of the guys in the truck, too.

[Riley]

"Heya Ernie, how 'bout two Lonestars. Where can we set up the Mk-19?"

[Dog Gone]

It's located in the Montrose area, not really a dangerous part of town.

[Gunrunner2]

You got that right.

As long as the shots weren't hitting light poles, shop windows and going everywhere except into the truck, they actually WERE hitting what they aimed at. Good on the cops for some great shooting.

Drive by shooters, cowards all.

[xrp]

[Shooter 2.5]

Especially with internal side panels. I have a tape where car doors are hit with a variety of cartrdges. It wasn't a very good test. The larger calibers were shot near the locking mechanism and the smaller calibers were near the bottom of the window frame. The smaller calibers went through and through and the .357's and .45's were stopped.
A better test would be to use the same gauge steel with the interior upholstery.

Someone will have to call "MythBusters".

[Squantos]

LMAO.......Whole bunch of wet kittens in gunny sacks down there.....with badges. Wonder why they didn't report, follow or return fire the first time ? Musta waited till the beer pitcher was empty. I can understand dat !

Stay Safe !