The family of a man accused of killing HPD Officer Henry Canales says he shot the officer because he did not know he was undercover.

Officer Canales, 42, was fatally shot during a reverse sting operation conducted by HPD’s Burglary, Theft and Auto Division around 9:40 p.m. Tuesday.

According to police, the gunman followed Canales to the back of a rental truck and pulled out a pistol. The two exchanged gunfire, and Canales was struck once. Both the officer and the suspect fell to the ground.

The sting was conducted outside a Walgreens at Bellaire and Hillcroft in southwest Houston.

Holding back tears outside their Northwest Houston home, Wednesday, relatives of the suspect said their father was a good man who has never been in trouble in the past.

They said he went to buy cheap televisions Tuesday night and as he left the house said he felt as if they were, ‘too cheap.’ He thought something was suspicious about the deal.

When he arrived in the parking lot, they say, he bought a TV, but then changed his mind and tried to get his money back. It is unclear what happened next, but this family is convinced their father pulled out a gun and shot the undercover officer because he feared for his life.

The suspect’s family is getting their information from a second suspect arrested Tuesday night who was at the scene of the shooting and is now in jail.

Relatives of the suspect say he is not a legal resident. He is married and has two children. The suspect buys and sells cars for a living out of his home.

Hear from the suspect's family tonight on 11 News at 10.


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