The murder of a Harris County deputy constable unfolded into a tense chase spanning 50 miles to Galveston, where the suspect tried to escape by driving his car into the bay.
Here is a breakdown of the events, tracing the incident from the shooting in Houston to the final moments of the suspect’s arrest in Galveston.
Deputy constable gunned down at stoplight in Houston
12:45 p.m.: Harris County Precinct 4 Deputy Constable Maher Husseini, 38, was on his way to work, stopped at a red light at the intersection of Richmond Avenue and Fondren Road in Houston. A gunman exited his vehicle, approached Husseini’s SUV, and opened fire.
After initially shooting Husseini, the suspect fled, only to return moments later to fire more rounds into the deputy’s vehicle before leaving the scene. Husseini was taken to Ben Taub Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Harris County Precinct 4 Constable Mark Herman addressed the media, sharing details about the deputy’s service and expressing condolences. Husseini’s wife, who had been traveling, was escorted by law enforcement from Bush Intercontinental Airport upon her arrival.
5 p.m.: Houston Police, using surveillance video, tracked the suspect’s vehicle to Galveston, approximately 50 miles southeast of Houston. A Galveston City Marshal spotted the suspect, identified as Athir Murady, at a local hotel. When Murady realized he had been seen, he fled in his vehicle.
A high-speed chase ensued, leading authorities to the Causeway Bridge, which connects Galveston Island to the mainland.
Investigators say Murady drove his vehicle off the road and into Galveston Bay near the Causeway Bridge. He got out of the sinking car and tried to swim away, reaching about 50-60 yards into the water.
Law enforcement, including tactical teams and a police K9, quickly responded with a boat. The K9 helped subdue Murady as he resisted arrest in the water.
Murady sustained a bite from the K9 during his apprehension. He was pulled from the water and placed on a gurney, then transported to UTMB John Sealy Hospital in Galveston for treatment under police guard.
Following Murady’s arrest, dive teams began searching the waters near the bridge to locate the weapon used in the murder. Authorities have not yet confirmed whether it has been recovered.
Suspect faces charges
Murady, who was initially charged with evading arrest, is expected to face additional charges, including capital murder. He is currently being held without bond at the Galveston County Jail while awaiting extradition to Harris County.
Ongoing investigation
Houston Police Chief Noe Diaz thanked multiple law enforcement agencies for their assistance in the arrest, including the Galveston Police Department, the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, and the U.S. Marshals.
Diaz expressed the hope that the arrest would bring some closure to Deputy Husseini’s family, though the investigation continues.
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Christian Terry covered digital news in Tyler and Wichita Falls before returning to the Houston area where he grew up. He is passionate about weather and the outdoors and often spends his days off on the water fishing.
Holly joined the KPRC 2 digital team in March 2024, leveraging her eight years of expertise in blogging and digital content to share her passion for Houston. Outside of work, she enjoys exploring the city's vibrant scenes, all while balancing her roles as a wife and mother to two toddlers.
