Omar Ventura shot dead by Houston police officer Jose Coronado at Sherlock’s Pub

Houston police are investigating the fatal shooting of one male and wounding of a second male by an off-duty HPD officer at 1900 West Gray about 2:20 a.m. on Saturday (Feb. 19).

The deceased male, Omar Ventura (H/m, DOB: 8-31-81), was pronounced dead at Ben Taub General Hospital. The other male, Rolando Ventura (H/m, DOB: 4-21-83), was wounded in the left arm and is being treated for his non life-threatening injury.

The off-duty officer, Jose Coronado, assigned to the South Central Patrol Division, suffered minor scrapes in the incident. He was sworn in as an HPD officer in June 2006.

HPD Homicide Division Sergeant M.A. Countryman and Officer J.B. Cornelius reported:

Officer Coronado was off-duty and a patron at the Sherlock’s Pub at 1952 W. Gray. Officer Coronado left the establishment and, as he was walking to his vehicle, he was alerted to a disturbance in the bar’s parking lot. Officer Coronado intervened and a brief altercation ensued. Officer Coronado discharged his off-duty weapon. A fellow bar patron, Omar Ventura, was shot once in the abdomen and his brother, Rolando Ventura, was shot once in his left arm.

There is a possibility a third individual was shot, but that person has not been located or identified. In addition, there are possibly other witnesses to this incident who might have left the scene prior to the arrival of patrol officers. Anyone with information in this incident is urged to contact the HPD Homicide Division at 713-308-3600.

As is customary in HPD officer-involved shooting incidents in the city limits, the incident is being investigated by the HPD Homicide and Internal Affairs Divisions and the Harris County District Attorney’s Office.