The Houston Police Department has released footage from a fatal officer-involved shooting that occurred in the Houston Heights neighborhood last month. According to CW39, the incident took place early on July 9, when a 39-year-old woman, who has yet to be named, was confronted by officers and later shot by Officer T. Dupuy, a 32-year veteran of the force. The bodycam and neighbor videos show the woman inside her home, armed and wearing body armor.
The confrontation reportedly began the previous night over a disturbance involving CenterPoint Energy workers. The woman allegedly barricaded herself, wore body armor, and displayed firearms from a window, later pointing a rifle at officers, which prompted the response of SWAT and negotiators. After extended efforts to de-escalate the situation, the police said that the woman aimed a rifle at officers, leading to the fatal shot by Officer Dupuy. The ongoing investigation is being conducted by multiple units, including the HPD's Special Investigations Unit, Internal Affairs Division, and the Harris County District Attorney’s Office.
Further details provided by FOX 26 Houston, reveal that the woman, referred to as "Sharla" in bodycam footage, had a standoff with police after harassing workers dealing with a gas leak. The bodycam videos show Sharla interacting with officers, at one point retreating into her house despite warnings, her ex-husband confirming the presence of weapons.
According to the bodycam footage, Officer Dupuy’s recording starts at 6:05 a.m., after police had secured an arrest warrant. In the tense moments captured before the shooting, Sharla can be heard defiantly saying, "You're about to ---- around and find out right now," just before the officer fires. The video then shows Sharla pulling out what appears to be a gun before the image blurs at the moment the shot is fired, as FOX 26 Houston reported.
