HOUSTON – A Memorial Villages police officer shot and killed a man Wednesday night after the struggled outside of a Houston hospital, according to authorities.
The shooting was reported about 10 p.m. in a parking garage near Memorial Hermann Hospital Memorial City.
According to police, a vehicle was stopped about 2:45 p.m. Wednesday with a man, a woman and a 9-month-old child inside. Police said someone reported that the vehicle was stopping at mailboxes with the outgoing mail flag displayed. Police said they found large amounts of mail inside the vehicle and began taking the two adults into custody. Police said the man began struggling with officers, which led to a Taser being used to subdue the man.
The man was taken to the hospital for an elevated heart rate, police said. Officers watched over him while he was at the hospital for hours and took him back into custody when he was released, police said. As an officer was taking him to patrol vehicle, another struggle ensued and the man was able to get away from the officer and free himself from his handcuffs, police said.
Police said the officer who was escorting him located the man in a nearby parking garage where a third struggle happened. Police said the man was trying to take the officer’s gun when she fired at least twice, killing the man.
Memorial Villages police Chief Ray Schultz said authorities are still trying to identify the man because officers found multiple identification cards in the vehicle.
Police said they believe the man and woman were involved in a mail theft ring.
The officer who was involved in the shooting has seven years of law enforcement experience, police said.
The child has been placed in the custody of Child Protective Services, police said.