HARRIS COUNTY, TX – A deputy with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) discharged his weapon during a call for service near a Walgreens, striking an adult male.
The incident occurred around 8:42 p.m. last night in the 12000 block of Veterans Memorial. According to HCSO, deputies responded after a Walgreens employee reported a male harassing customers in the parking lot.
HCSO stated the deputy spoke with the employee before approaching the male, who was still outside. The deputy attempted to detain him, but the man got up, walked away, and refused to comply with commands. The deputy followed the male for approximately 50 yards while giving repeated verbal commands.
According to HCSO, two attempts to deploy a Taser were unsuccessful. The deputy then drew his firearm and, after continued noncompliance, discharged one round, striking the male in the wrist and hip.
The deputy applied a tourniquet to the suspect’s upper leg/hip area and called EMS. The 61-year-old male, believed to be homeless, was transported to the hospital in stable but critical condition. No injuries were reported to the deputy.
Earlier in the evening, HCSO deputies had responded to a call regarding the same male, but he had already left before they arrived. Walgreens employees reported the man had received approximately 15 criminal trespass warnings in the past for harassing customers at the location.
HCSO confirmed that no weapons were recovered from the suspect at the scene. The Harris County Sheriff’s Office Internal Affairs Division and the Harris County District Attorney’s Office are both conducting independent investigations into the shooting.
You can watch the full update from HCSO below:
