HOUSTON – A man was shot and killed at a northwest Harris County apartment complex after sheriff's officials said he lunged at a deputy while holding a butcher knife.
The father of the man who was killed identified his son as Jeray Chatham, 30. Ray Chatham said his son, a former defense lineman for Oklahoma State University, was a "gentle giant" who "didn't deserve this."
Sheriff's officials said a woman dialed 911 Tuesday evening to report she had a protective order against Chatham and he was was following her in his car. The woman eventually drove to a convenience store at the intersection of Veterans Memorial and Blue Bell.
When deputies arrived they said Chatham drove away and circled the neighborhood before returning to the convenience store. Deputies said Chatham then got out of his car holding a butcher knife.
Sgt. C. Collier said the deputy fired a Taser at Chatham but it "was ineffective." Collier was uncertain whether the Taser hit Chatham or missed. Collier said Chatham then ran into a near-by apartment complex.
Collier said Chatham jumped into the patio area of one apartment and stripped down to his underwear. Collier said as the deputy continued the chase, Chatham ran around a corner and stopped.
Collier said when the deputy rounded the corner, Chatham lunged at him with the knife. Collier said the deputy then shot Chatham twice and he died at the complex.
Chatham's father said his son recently broke up with his girlfriend of 8 years, but declined to say anything more about the split.