A Harris County man was fatally shot by SWAT officers after a brief standoff at a northwest Harris County apartment complex Monday morning. CW39 reports that the incident began just before 8 a.m. when deputies responded to a call about a man firing a gun from his balcony at 5550 Dancy Road.
Upon arrival, deputies encountered the individual who had barricaded himself inside the apartment after shooting at them from the balcony. A statement obtained by CW39 details that no deputies were injured. SWAT was subsequently called to manage the volatile situation, and residents in the vicinity were evacuated as precaution.
Negotiation efforts, which included the use of drones and robots, extended over two and a half hours but ultimately proved unsuccessful. It was shortly after 10 a.m. when the man re-emerged on his balcony and allegedly pointed a handgun towards the deputies, as reported by FOX 26 Houston. Four SWAT members responded by discharging their firearms, resulting in the man’s death at the scene.
The identity of the man had not been released, and according to FOX 26 Houston, he was not previously known to have either a criminal record or a history of mental health issues. The deputies involved in the shooting, who have between five to 19 years tenure with the department, were not identified pending the investigation. Multiple agencies, including the Harris County Sheriff's Office and Harris County District Attorney's Office, are conducting a thorough investigation of the shooting, as per standard protocol.
