Juan Alberto Gallegos, 40, faces charges for his alleged role in a shootout with HPD officers on Kress Street, police say

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — A man at the center of a shootout with Houston police was charged Thursday, officers said.

Juan Alberto Gallegos was arrested Tuesday after the shooting in the Denver Harbor/Port Houston area, outside a home on Kress Street.

The Houston Police Department posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, that it all started when the 40-year-old man barricaded himself inside the home.

Investigators said Gallegos’ son’s girlfriend called police, saying he was intoxicated and threatening her, her son and daughter with a gun.

According to HPD Asst. Chief Megan Howard, officers were unable to access the property because the home was fenced.

Officers found the teens who had locked themselves in the house and were able to get them out through a bedroom window without Gallegos’ knowledge.

HPD said Gallegos went out the front door several times and spoke with officers, but refused to open the iron fence gate.

About an hour later, Gallegos allegedly came out with a gun in his hand and opened fire on the officers, prompting the police to return fire.

Howard said he opened fire once and the officers fired multiple times. The 40-year-old man then went back inside, contacted police and came back outside, appearing unarmed.

The SWAT team was able to distract the suspect while other officers were able to break through the fence, approach him and take him into custody.

On Thursday, Gallegos was charged with aggravated assault on a public servant.

As is typical in shooting incidents involving HPD officers within Houston city limits, HPD’s Special Investigations Unit and Internal Affairs Division are investigating the case.