Last Friday's confrontation between a robbery suspect and a Houston police officer culminated in gunfire, leaving the suspect in critical condition. The incident transpired around 3:25 p.m. at 2200 Southmore Boulevard, when HPD officers responded to a robbery at a nearby store, as per details by the City of Houston.
The implicated suspect, identified as 33-year-old Earnest Duke Harrison, currently faces charges of aggravated assault against a public servant and aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon. Houston Police Department's Officer L. Jumonji, who joined the force in December 2021, found herself compelled to discharge her weapon after Harrison, wielding a machete, advanced towards her. The HPD's Special Investigations Unit Detectives K. Vu and M. Childs are conducting the inquiry into the shooting.
Harrison's medical condition was stabilized after being rushed to an area hospital, yet he firmly remains hospitalized. Officer Jumonji, stationed at the South Central Patrol Division, was not harmed during the encounter. Quoting information from the City of Houston, "When officers arrived they located a male matching the suspect's description and gave him verbal commands to stop. The suspect advanced towards one of the officers with a machete. Fearing for her and others safety, the officer discharged her duty weapon, striking the suspect."
The investigation is following standard protocol for HPD officer-involved shootings, with oversight from the HPD Special Investigations Unit, the Internal Affairs Division, and the Harris County District Attorney’s Office. These procedures are designed to ensure a comprehensive review of the events leading to the officer's use of deadly force in response to a perceived immediate threat.
