The Police News / Breck Porter
October 12, 2009

GALVESTON - The bullet holes in the front door of this home at 5910 Weber in Galveston are some evidence of the gunfire that took place in the neighborhood Saturday night.

These visible bullet holes were fired from inside the house.  There was at least one fired into the door from outside as two men blazed away at each other.

Late today, police officials clamped down on information about the shooting, even though both men suffered comparatively minor wounds.

The Police News learned early this morning that CSI's from the Galveston Police Department and police dive teams were diving in Hall's Bayou off FM-2004 in Brazoria County in search of one of the pistols used by one of the combatants.

Witnesses told The Police News that one of the gunmen was believed to be from the Santa Fe area.  He is the one believed to have taken the weapon from the shooting scene and threw it in the bayou.

The police dive team recovered the weapon, a 9 mm Smith & Wesson, and the magazine containing several unfired rounds of ammunition.  It was recovered after about a three hour dive operation in 8-10 feet of water.

A police spokesman said there will be an official statement regarding the incident issued sometime today.

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 Galveston Police Department
Press Release

3:35pm Monday Afteroon

            On October 10, 2009 at approximately 11:20am, officers of the Galveston Police Department responded to a call of a shooting at 5910 Weber, in the City of Galveston.  Upon arrival officers discovered the resident, a male subject identified as Thaddeus Ross, inside the residence with a bullet wound to the leg.

            Ross stated he was in bed sleeping with his girlfriend when someone knocked loudly on the front door.  Ross stated his girlfriend answered the door and he heard her scream.  Ross stated he grabbed a 9mm pistol from the dresser and went to the living room where he encountered the two males.  Ross stated one of the males pulled a pistol and began firing.  Ross returned fire as the males fled, yet one of the males continued shooting into the house.  One of the rounds fired by the suspect entered the front wall of the residence and struck Ross in the leg.

            Major Case Detective Fred Paige conducted the investigation which led to the recovery of the suspect vehicle in Hitchcock, Texas, on Sunday.  Officer's of the Galveston Police Department Dive Team recovered the weapon used in the shooting in Hall's Bayou early this morning.

            Detective Paige obtained warrants for Nicholas Wayne Griffin, of Santa Fe, Texas, for Burglary of a Habitation with Intent to Commit Felony and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Felon, with bonds totaling $150,000.00.  Detective Paige made contact with Griffin who turned himself in at the Galveston Police Department.  Griffin was transported to the John Sealy Emergency Room for treatment of a gun shot wound to the foot he received during the incident.

Prepared by,

Capt. Jeff Heyse

Investigative Services Bureau

Galveston Police Department

Nicholas Wayne Griffin