A Texas deputy was killed and two others were injured in a shootout outside a Houston bar in the early hours of Saturday, law enforcement officials said at a news conference.

Just after 2 a.m., three representatives from the Harris County Precinct 4 constable’s office working a police-related job at 45 Norte Sports Bar went outside to clear up a disturbance, according to Jim Jones, executive assistant chief of the Houston Police Department.

The disturbances “could have been a robbery in which they were interfering”, he said. He said that at one point, deputies tried to detain a man and were shot in the back.

“We believe he was attacked,” Mr. Jones told reporters.

Authorities have taken one person into custody but were still searching for a man believed to be the shooter, Houston Police Executive Assistant Chief James Jones said.

“We are not sure whether he is a witness or a suspect. There is a lot of investigation yet to be done.”

The man was “close to the scene”, Mr. Jones said. One of the wounded was shot in the back, and the other was shot in the leg, constable Mark Harman, selected for Precinct 4, said at the conference.

“What happened tonight was bad,” said Mr. Hermann. “And now good is to come, and I hope for speedy justice.”

According to the Houston Police Department, they were trying to arrest someone when another person with a rifle ambushed them and shot the deputy from behind.

Another was shot in the foot, while the third deputy was pronounced dead at the hospital.