Armed Robbers Posing as DoorDash Drivers Tie Up Mother in Houston Home Invasion

Two armed robbers posing as DoorDash drivers forced their way into a Houston-area home Tuesday morning, tying up a mother in front of her two young children before a shootout with police left one officer injured, authorities said.

The robbers approached the home before 9:40 a.m., carrying a red DoorDash bag and wearing masks, according to Houston Police Chief J. Noe Diaz. When Nicole Bates, who was inside with her sons, aged 3 and 1, answered the door, one of the men pulled out a gun and forced his way inside.

The intruders zip-tied the mother's wrists and began searching the house for valuables. The young children were not harmed. A neighbor noticed the suspicious situation and called 911. Houston police officers arrived within minutes to find the front door open and the suspects still inside.

One of the robbers opened fire as officers entered the home, striking an officer in the thigh. Despite the injury, the officer and his partner were able to subdue both suspects. The officer, whose name has not been released, was taken to a hospital and later released. He is expected to make a full recovery.

"He's a hero in my book," Diaz said during a news conference. "His quick response likely saved lives."

A third suspect, who was seen fleeing the scene in a white SUV, was arrested later Tuesday afternoon.

The mother and her children were physically unharmed, but Ben Bates, the homeowner and grandfather of the children, said the incident has taken an emotional toll on his family. He was not at home during the invasion. "I can't imagine what my daughter is going through right now," Bates said in an interview with KPRC.

Diaz said it remains unclear whether the home was specifically targeted by the suspects, who were identified Wednesday afternoon as Raymond Pérez, 35, Michael Pérez, 38, and Brian A. García Chávez, 18. The three men are in custody and have been charged with aggravated assault against a public servant, aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon and unlawful carrying of a weapon in the 230th State District Court.