Suspect fatally shot by HPD was allegedly threatening officers with bat and concrete chunk

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- A man who police say was threatening officers with a bat and a chunk of concrete was shot and killed in Houston's Spring Branch area Friday afternoon.

According to Houston Police, the fatal shooting happened at the corner of Wirt and Hammerly after a Taser was ineffective, police said.

Witnesses described an escalating police encounter.

"Something inside me was telling me something bad was going to happen," Oscar Rios said.

Carrying three bags and a bat, video shared only with ABC13 showed the suspect flanked by two HPD officers. They followed him across the street. Seconds later, one officer fired the fatal shots.

Rios made his own recording.

"I just kept hoping it was going to turn out better," he said.

HPD said police were responding to a second call from a security guard about a man with a bat who was threatening. The first incident was at 8:30 a.m. The guard said the man had charged him in the 7800 block of Longpoint. The suspect left before police arrived.

Around 3 p.m., the same security guard contacted police again, reporting that the suspect had returned. Police found him near Wirt Road, still armed with a bat and behaving aggressively, they said.

"The guy had a bat, a blue and silver baseball bat and would swing at them to keep them at bay," Rios said.

Once they crossed the street, Assistant Chief Yasar Bashir said the man picked up some concrete visible in one video, failed to comply with multiple commands, and was threatening. One officer discharged his Taser, which was ineffective.

"The suspect had a heavy jacket and that's one of the reasons, I believe, it did not have any effect," Bashir explained.

The other officer fired five times, killing the man. Officers rendered aid, but the suspect was pronounced dead at the scene. He is believed to be a Hispanic male in his 50s.

Bashir said the officer who fired the shots has been with HPD for three years and has been placed on administrative duties pending the investigation.

The department says body-worn camera footage will be released within 30 days. HPD's Homicide Division, Internal Affairs, and the Harris County District Attorney's Office are all investigating.

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