Slain Houston Sergeant's Body Armor Did Not Fail, as Previously Suspected

An investigation into the fatal shooting of a Houston police sergeant killed Saturday has found that his bullet-resistant vest did not fail as originally believed, rather the rounds struck the officer outside the armor, according to a Houston police department statement.

Preliminary reports about the murder of Sgt. Christopher Brewster had raised concerns that the fatal rounds had penetrated his soft body armor, USA Today reports.

But in a statement issued Wednesday night, Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo said further forensic examinations showed the department's initial concerns "are unfounded."  At least one round struck Brewster between his belt and the bottom of the Level II soft-body armor vest, he said.

Brewster, 32, was shot and killed Saturday while responding to a domestic violence call in Magnolia Park in eastern Houston. As the officer was dying, he managed to radio in a description of the gunman. Police subsequently arrested 25-year-old Arturo Solis and charged him with capital murder of a police officer.