Sergeant Sean Sebastian Rios, 47, was a 25-year veteran of the Houston Police Department and a Marine Corps veteran. On November 9, 2020, while driving to begin his shift at George Bush Intercontinental Airport, he encountered two vehicles and an armed man on the roadway. A shootout followed in the 7700 block of the North Freeway; Sergeant Rios was critically wounded, made it to the nearby Taj Inn & Suites, and died of his injuries.
The suspect, identified as Robert Soliz and reported to be 24 at the time, was arrested the next day during a traffic stop on the Katy Freeway. Sergeant Rios left behind four children, aged 17, 14, 12, and 9, as well as parents, a brother, and two cousins who also serve with the Houston Police Department. The community and the department honored his service, and Mayor Sylvester Turner proclaimed November 18 as Sgt. Sean Sebastian Rios Day in Houston.
If anyone has information about the events on November 9, 2020, or knew Sergeant Rios, please share what you know.