A manhunt is underway in Texas after a detective was fatally ambushed, the sheriff's office announced.

An aggravated assault suspect killed a Texas detective Thursday morning during a pursuit, prompting a manhunt by the Harris County Sheriff's Office.

According to Sheriff Ed Gonzalez on social media, the detective who solved the case was 28 years old and had been with the sheriff's office for five years.

At a news conference on Thursday morning, HCSO Chief Deputy Mike Lee stated that the incident occurred at approximately 10:10 p.m. on Wednesday when a call was received regarding an aggravated assault at the Little Caesars Pizza located on Wallisville Road in northeast Houston.

A customer who visited a store to pick up a pizza reportedly assaulted an employee, verbally abusing them and then pulling out a gun and pistol whipping them before fleeing in a vehicle. The identity of the customer remains unknown.

The police were able to locate the car with the help of the employee who provided the make, model, and license plate number, according to Lee. The detectives and officers on patrol searched for the vehicle and entered the license plate number into the city's Flock camera system, which led them to a specific location with a history of hits.

A detective returned to the area and informed others that he had found the vehicle but not the suspect, and was preparing to question the driver.

There was confusion with radio transmissions, but it was clear that Lee was having a phone conversation with another detective, and during that call, the detective was "apparently ambushed."

In the 13200 block of Italian Cypress Trail, the undercover vehicle of the detective was found riddled with bullets. The detective was struck multiple times and was in critical condition. Officers rushed to the location.

"The hospital decided it was best not to wait for EMS due to the severity of the injuries and the location of the hospital, so they placed our deputy in a patrol vehicle and rushed him to the emergency room where he died from his gunshot wounds," Lee stated.

According to Lee, the detective was part of a highly skilled unit.

"Lee stated that this group hunts down child rapists, homicide suspects, and some of the most egregious criminals daily for a living, and they are highly skilled and respected in their job."

Law enforcement agencies have a "good idea" of the suspect's identity and have set up SWAT teams at two locations to apprehend him as of Thursday morning.

"I am confident that the forces of the Harris County Sheriff's Office and the Houston Police Department will apprehend the suspect promptly," Lee stated.

The suspect is a Black male who was last seen wearing a hat and a black shirt with a jersey that had unknown writing on it. His age is unknown.

Gonzalez expressed his "extreme sadness" on social media and stated that the department "will not rest" until the suspect is in custody.

We are not ready for such an unexpected death, and our members require your prayers and support. We share in the grief of his family as they cope with this devastating news. An investigation is currently being conducted to identify and bring his killer to justice. We will not stop until we find out who did this.

According to the Officer Down Memorial Page, the most recent Harris County deputy to be shot and killed was Deputy Sheriff Darren Almendarez on March 31, 2022.

While not on duty, he encountered three individuals attempting to steal a catalytic converter, which led to a physical confrontation that ultimately resulted in gunfire. Two of the suspects were injured but managed to survive.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.