Houston deputy shot in back after traffic stop

HOUSTON --A Harris County deputy constable was shot in the back during an ambush in Houston Wednesday night,reports CBS affiliate KHOU.

Constable May Walker said Alden Clopton was rushed into surgery with four gunshot wounds. After several hours, Clopton was transferred to critical care where officials said he was doing well.

Officials said a female reserve deputy constable made a traffic stop around 11:30 p.m., and Clopton pulled in to offer assistance. After the stop wrapped up, Clopton was leaning into the reserve deputy's passenger window to help with the patrol unit's audio-visual equipment, when a man approached from behind and fired at least six shots.

"It was virtually an ambush, is what it was," Walker said.

Walker said Clopton was wearing his bullet-proof vest at the time of the attack, and the vest may have saved his life.

Clopton is a married father of five children and an 11-year veteran of the force who mentors new officers, according to Lt. Holland Jones.

A man resembling the suspect's description later showed up at a nearby fire station and is now being questioned as a person of interest in the case.