ROSENBERG – Rosenberg police said there was a deadly officer-involved shooting Friday evening.
“The dispatch center received a call for service referencing a male that is said to have been discharging a firearm at individuals at the laundromat here in the 1700 block of 8th street,” said Rosenberg Police Chief Jonathan White.
Police later identified the man as Tory Casey, 41, of Rosenberg, Texas.
Witnesses said there was a man and a woman fighting around 6:15 p.m. inside the washateria in the 1700 block of 8th street. Then witnesses said the situation continued to escalate.
According to witnesses, the man was shouting at a woman inside the washateria. They believe the woman was the man’s girlfriend. Then, witnesses said the man had a gun and threatened to kill the woman and eventually others inside.
Witnesses told KPRC 2 the man said he was the devil. One witness said when the man ran outside he also ran and then the witness heard multiple gunshots. One witness said the man told the witness to come back so that he could be shot and killed. The witness did not know the man.
Rosenberg police said Texas DPS and the Fort Bend County District Attorney’s Office are investigating the case. Three Rosenberg Police officers were placed on administrative leave.
“Officers immediately began giving verbal commands to this individual,” White said. “Unfortunately that suspect did not drop his weapon and officers discharged the firearms.”
David Romero, a Rosenberg resident, tells KPRC he saw what happened outside. He said a man appeared to be coming from outside the washateria. Romero was watching a movie when he thought he heard gunshots.
“Initially, I heard it multiple shootings,” Romero said. “I was watching a movie so I didn’t know if it was the movie and the good surround sound and sure enough it kept going.”
Then Romero went outside and couldn’t believe what he saw.
“I open the backdoor and see that man outside pointing [the gun] around taking a few shots at the car that was driving away and then the car leaves, then he’s still shooting some in the air and then he takes his shirt off,” Romero said. “Another car drives up...he points it at that car. That car drives away.”
Witnesses called 911.
“Sure enough, (the) police come. They keep their distance and yell over and over, ‘Drop it! Drop it! Drop it!’ " Romero said. “He’s like talking with his hands and he’s pointing, pointing.”
Then Romero said he heard gunshots and saw the man fall to the ground. The neighborhood was shocked.
“That’s my backyard. I saw it from my backyard. So, it’s scary,” Romero said.
Police said the man was taken to the hospital, where he later died.
According to a tweet from White: “Scene is secure and there is no threat to the public...Further details will be updated at a later time.”