| Houston police are investigating an incident in which an armed suspect was fatally shot by an HPD officer at 5400 West Loop South (Interstate Highway 610 West) at about 9 a.m. on Thursday (February 1).
The identity of the male suspect is pending notification to family members by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences.
Lieutenant M. Williams, who discharged his duty weapon, was not injured in this incident. Lieutenant Williams, assigned to the Southwest Patrol Division, was sworn in as an officer in July 1993.
HPD Special Investigations Unit Sergeant H. Chavez and Officer M. Rodriguez reported:
HPD officers responded to a report of a robbery at a gas station at 10721 South Post Oak. Upon arrival, officers learned the suspect fired a gunshot through the store window during the robbery, but no one was struck. The suspect then fled the scene. Witnesses provided responding officers with a description of the suspect and a license plate of the suspect’s vehicle. HPD officers then requested assistance from the HPD Air Support Division.
Shortly after, HPD helicopters located the suspect vehicle stopped on the freeway mainlanes in the 5400 block of the West Loop South. Bellaire police officers, as well as HPD officers arrived at the location and found the suspect, matching the description of the person involved in the robbery, walking with a gun in his hand eastbound across the freeway towards businesses. The suspect refused to obey officers’ commands and continued to flee on foot. Officers continued to follow the suspect and gave him verbal commands to stop and drop his weapon. The suspect ignored commands and attempted to steal several vehicles from motorists driving on Pin Oak Street. The suspect, still holding his weapon, then turned toward HPD Lieutenant Williams. Fearing for his safety and for the safety of those around him, Lt. Williams discharged his duty weapon. The suspect was struck and continued to flee northbound through a parking lot where he was detained by Bellaire and HPD officers. The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene by responding Bellaire paramedics.
As is customary in HPD officer-involved shootings inside the city limits, this case is being investigated by the HPD Special Investigations Unit, the HPD Internal Affairs Division and the Harris County District Attorney's Office.
JKS/VHS 2-2-18
Inc. #013572118 |
