HCSO: Deputy shoots, kills man with shiny object in hand

HARRIS COUNTY, Texas – A Harris County deputy shot and killed a suspect holding a shiny object in a northwest Harris County house.

Investigators said the deputy was serving a warrant on Gerrit Perkins, who was accused of assaulting his girlfriend. The deputies searched a house in the 17000 block of Analisa Circle at 10 p.m., officials said.

"The suspect's girlfriend allowed deputies inside the home. We had three deputies inside the home. They did an initial search of the home looking for that suspect. One of the deputies found the suspect hiding in a closet of a bedroom on the first floor," said Christina Garza with the HCSO.

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A deputy said he asked Perkins to show his hands, but instead, the suspect made a sudden move while carrying a shiny object. The deputy then shot him, officials said.

"Our deputy, in fear for his life, discharged his weapon," Garza said.

Officials said the shiny object turned out to be a telephone. Perkins died at North Cypress Medical Center a short time later.

Perkins was wanted on an aggravated assault charge. A neighbor said Perkins was abusing his girlfriend.

"He was abusing the lady because she came over to the house one day, crying. She was all bruised up," neighbor John Salazar said.

The deputy will be placed on administrative leave for three days, which is standard procedure in officer-involved shootings.