HOUSTON – A suspect was killed Tuesday in an officer-involved shooting in northeast Houston, according to the Houston Police Department.
Houston police responded to call around 8:55 p.m. in the 6500 block of East Freeway frontage road and 800 block of Gazin Street about a 27-year-old Hispanic man trying to possibly commit suicide and in psychological distress.
HPD Chief Art Acevedo said there were reports of the man trying to jump in front of vehicles. Acevedo said the first unit arrived around 8:57 p.m. and checked the area. He said more reports came in about the man running around the neighborhood, jumping fences and threatening residents with some type of metal weapon.
Police said residents were able to flag the responding officers to the man’s whereabouts around 9:15 p.m. Acevedo said an officer spotted the suspect and reported that the man was armed with a possible knife. Police said about two minutes later, the officer alerted that shots had been fired after the suspect refused to comply.
Acevedo said preliminary information revealed the man was stabbing himself, trying to stab at the officer and refused to comply with orders. Acevedo said the officer discharged his weapon when the man began coming toward him with the knife. Officials said the suspect was still not complying and a responding HPD officer and a Harris County Precinct 6 Constable’s deputy deployed their tasers, which were ineffective when the suspect pulled the tasers out.
Police said other officers fired bean bags, which was also ineffective.
Acevedo said when the suspect tried to charge at the officers again, officers discharged additional rounds, striking the man. The man was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police said no officers were injured in the shooting.
The suspect’s mother told officers that her son just recently got out of jail and was dealing with emotional issues, Acevedo said.
Officer’s body cam will be reviewed as internal affairs investigate the officer-involved shooting, Acevedo said.
Watch the full briefing on the shooting below:
Chief @ArtAcevedo Briefing on Officer-Involved Shooting at 800 Gazin https://t.co/mvevhpkWAo
— Houston Police (@houstonpolice) April 22, 2020