Palston Bend Lane shooting: Suspect killed in deputy-involved shooting, investigation now underway
HARRIS COUNTY, Texas - The Harris County Sheriff's Office is investigating following a deadly deputy-involved shooting on Wednesday evening.
Authorities said the shooting occurred on the 3200 block of Palston Bend Lane around 7:15 p.m.
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Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said autohrities received an in-progress call around 7:15 p.m. stating a man was bleeding, stabbing himself, and impeding traffic.
Gonzalez stated the man was also rubbing some of the blood onto vehicles.
The first units arrived on the scene within two minutes.
Gonzalez said the deputies saw the man, and believed he was still carrying a weapon in his hand, and was also carrying a large wooden cross over his head.
Authorities used verbal commands to disarm the man and used less than lethal force to no avail.
Authorities requested a less lethal option, a 40 mm weapon that shoots a bean bag at a high rate, but that particular option wasn't able to get to the scene in time.
Gonzalez said the man, who is a 59-year-old Hispanic or white male, had advanced on deputies already.
Then the man advanced on the deputies again and one deputy fired.
As that occurred, another deputy, who had just arrived on scene, also fired his taser ‘almost simultaneously’ as the deputy fired.
Officials said they believe the man lived in the community where the shooting occurred. They also believe the man had a long history of mental health calls at his home, such as being in crisis, paranoid, and calling to have his home checked.
Witnesses told authorities that the man's condition was said to be deteriorating.
Gonzalez stated the deputy who fired his weapon was a ‘seasoned veteran’ and he will be placed on administrative leave, along with the deputy who fired his taser.
The shooting remains under investigation.