HOUSTON – The Harris County Sheriff’s Office released the video Tuesday of an officer-involved shooting that happened in March in Cypress.
Prior to showing the video, HCSO Assistant Chief Mike Lee shared a statement describing what people would see in the video, as well as a warning for disturbing and graphic content. In all, the video is 12 minutes and 37 seconds. HCSO provided the edited videos and did not take questions from reporters saying the investigation is ongoing and referred KPRC 2 to Lee’s statement on the video.
Matthew Hurlock, 35, died after he was shot near the Cypress gas station on March 17. The shooting happened at Timewise convenience store in the 12000 block of Telge Road at 11:54 a.m. Read KPRC 2′s initial reporting on what happened.
Deputies responded to reports of a knife-wielding man. Officials said when the responding deputies tried to detain the man, he refused and fought the deputies. Officials said during the fight, the man was shot by deputies. Officials said the deputies began to perform CPR on the man until EMS arrived at the scene. He was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Officials said no deputies were injured in the shooting.
You can watch the law enforcement-produced video of the confrontation below:
In the first body camera video, authorities stop the video to show what appears to be a knife. Three separate versions from deputies’ body-worn cameras are shared in the YouTube video.
Two knives were recovered from the scene, as well as spent Taser cartridges for grand jury proceedings to determine whether criminal charges will be pursued, according to Lee.
Two separate investigations into this case are underway by HCSO Homicide Division and the Harris County District Attorney’s Office’s Civil Rights Division. An internal investigation is being conducted by the Harris County Sheriff’s Office Internal Affairs Division to be presented to the sheriff’s administrative disciplinary committee to address the deputies’ actions and whether they followed established policies and procedures.
Hurlock’s mother, Beverly, said all she wants is justice for her son.
“He’s not the vicious person that they are making him out to be. He was loving and kind, and he was a father,” Hurlock said.
Michael Trevino, her attorney, told KPRC 2 he has seen the unedited footage and says there’s just not enough information on what transpired so he doesn’t want to jump to any conclusions.
“It does look as if Mr. Hurlock is trying to get away, trying to move in a different direction away from the police officers when he’s shot, but it’s hard to determine,” Trevino said.
A sheriff’s department spokesman told KPRC 2 they are developing a policy with respect to releasing video of officer-involved shootings. They intend to release relevant video footage where the use of force results in death or serious bodily injury unless there’s a compelling reason to withhold it to protect the integrity of the investigation, which would be rare.