Felon Pulls Gun on Cop, Faces 10 Years in Prison

A 33-year-old Houston resident has pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm after pointing a loaded .22 caliber pistol at a local police department officer responding to an assault.

Tomas Rodriguez, 33, of Houston, pointed the firearm at the officer who was in the course of their normal duty on Sept. 5, 2021, in a parking lot near a Houston bar.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s office, the officer had responded to a report of an assault and was directed to Rodriguez by witnesses. Rodriguez fled towards an injured female lying face down on the ground, but fell as he ran. The officer commanded him to remain on the ground, but Rodriguez got up and pointed the firearm at the officer.

The officer responded by discharging his duty weapon in self-defense, but Rodriguez was not struck. He proceeded to flee and discarded the weapon. Authorities apprehended Rodriguez following a foot pursuit and subsequently recovered his loaded firearm.

Rodriguez has multiple prior felony convictions, which prohibits him from possessing firearms and ammunition per federal law. U.S. District Judge Alfred H. Bennett accepted the plea and set sentencing for Aug. 8, at which time Rodriguez faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

Rodriguez has been and will remain in custody pending sentencing. The Houston Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation, while Assistant U.S. Attorney Byron H. Black prosecuted the case.

MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS

Weapons

Kashif Dukes, Carjacking, Illinois 2021

Apr 8, 2026

Weapons

Thomas Christopher Joseph, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Oklahoma 2024

May 21, 2019

Weapons

Robert Pugh, Leon Williams, Weapons Violations, Florida 2024

Apr 8, 2026

Weapons

Scott Eric Anderson, Conspiracy to Destroy by Means of an Explosive Device, California 2023

Apr 9, 2026