This is the chilling moment a Texas gunman armed with a machine gun shoots at three officers in a police car following a chase.
The suspect, who has been named as Roland Caballero, age not reported, was subsequently arrested after a stand-off that reportedly lasted hours.
The three police officers were reportedly injured and are currently receiving treatment in hospital.
The incident took place in the 1500 block of Trallee Street in the city of Houston in Harris County in the southern US state of Texas at approximately 2.45pm on Thursday night, 27th January.
The footage shows the suspect’s vehicle stopping on a pavement before a police car with its sirens blaring arrives on the scene.
It comes to a stop as the suspect allegedly opens fire on the police officers inside the vehicle.
The sound of gunfire can be heard coming from what appears to be a machine gun targeting the police officers’ vehicle.
A first police officer can be seen running out from behind the car from the driver side of the vehicle, away from the suspect, apparently in a bid to take cover.
Then a second police officer can be seen getting out of the front passenger side door and returning fire on the suspect while moving to his right in a bid to avoid catching a bullet from the machine gun.
Smoke can be seen rising from the police officers’ vehicle, presumably as a result of the damage caused to it by the suspect’ s gunfire.
A third police officer remains in the vehicle as the second police officer takes cover around the street corner, behind the suspect’s car.
This piece of footage then ends, with at least two of the police officers being injured shortly afterwards.
Houston Police Chief Troy Finner reportedly said that the suspect immediately began shooting at the officers as they arrived on the scene.
The suspect then allegedly carjacked a white Mercedes-Benz at gunpoint after the footage ended.
This led to a second chase, which only ended when the suspect barricaded himself inside a home in the 1800 block of Lockwood, also in the city of Houston.
Chief Finner said that the suspect was taken into custody at about 7pm after a stand-off that lasted hours and during which the suspect allegedly opened fire on SWAT police officers, with the suspect finally walking out of the building and surrendering.
The police chief added that the suspect was taken to hospital with a gunshot wound to his neck. There have been no further updates on his condition.
Mark Herman, a Harris County Constable at Precinct 4, said on social media: “Three Houston Police Department officers are reported shot in this shootout!”
He added: “Currently Harris County leads the nation in murders! Please pray for these 3 HPD Officers and their families!”
The three injured police officers were taken to Memorial Hermann Hospital suffering from non-life-threatening injuries.
One police officer was reportedly shot in the arm, while a second suffered a leg injury, and the third took a bullet to the foot.
The police officers have been identified as officers Gadson, 35, Hayden, 32, and Alvarez, 28.
Chief Finner said during a press briefing on Thursday evening: “I want everybody, all our leaders, no more excuses, everybody take an active role and get intentional and do whatever you can to fight gun violence.”
He added: “It’s not a difficult thing.”
It is currently unclear what prompted the initial chase. Police officers responded to a call in the area and chased after the suspect after he took off in a vehicle upon spotting the police officers, according to Chief Finner.
There were no further updates at the time of writing on the condition of the three police officers currently in hospital being treated for gunshot wounds.
Chief Finner said: “We’re just grateful to God that they’re all right. It’s been a tough week for law enforcement in our city.”
It is currently unclear if the suspect has been formally charged. It is currently unclear when the suspect will be brought before a judge.
