Houston cop shot dead on his way to work

A Houston police officer was fatally shot while responding to a call for help on his way to work, department officials said.

Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo said Sgt. Sean Rios, a 47-year-old father of four, was fatally injured Monday afternoon as he responded to a call for shots fired at an intersection in north Houston, KSAT reported.

Rios, a 25-year-old department vet, exchanged gunfire with a suspect and was punched in the exchange, prompting him to run for help at a nearby motel, where he died immediately after the arrival of the paramedics.

Acevedo told reporters that two vehicles were involved in the shooting – a blue Mercedes which was later seized by police and a black van – while promising that a suspect ‘heavily tattooed’ between the middle and the end of in her 30s would be tracked down by authorities, CNN reported.

“We are going to capture you,” Acevedo said. “So do yourself a favor and give yourself back because we’re going to catch you.” We have leads and we will catch you. And the best thing you can do if you know this person is report them or call the police so that we don’t have any more blood.

No arrests had been made in connection with the ongoing investigation as of early Tuesday, a Houston Police spokeswoman told The Post.

Rios is the fourth Houston officer killed in the line of duty since December and the second in the past three weeks, according to CNN.

“We will never forget him and see his 4 children, his family and his friends go through this painful loss”, Acevedo tweeted.

Rios’ body was escorted Monday evening to a medical examiner’s office, where fellow officers paid tribute to him during a tribute. video shows.