BELLAIRE, Texas – A Houston police officer Tuesday morning fatally shot a man accused of being involved in two aggravated robberies, according to police.
The suspect, who authorities are working to identify, robbed a Southside Place CVS and a McDonald's along Bellaire Boulevard. while wielding a screwdriver and a pair of scissors, police said.
A manager at the McDonald's was assaulted by the suspect and suffered non-life-threatening injuries, according to HPD.
Both Houston police and Bellaire police received calls about the robberies.
An HPD and a Bellaire officer chased the suspect down on foot to Bellaire Boulevard near Chimney Rock. Along Bellaire Boulevard, near the pawn shop, the officers tried to use a Taser on the suspect.
"The suspect was struck by at least one of those Tasers but it had no effect," Executive Assistant Chief Matt Slinkard of the Houston Police Department said. "It did not stop the suspect."
That's when an HPD officer opened fire on the suspect. The suspect later died at Ben Taub Hospital.
"The suspect, still yielding the weapon, refusing commands. One HPD officer discharged his weapon," Slinkard said. "We do not know how many times but more than once. The suspect was struck and transported to Ben Taub Hospital."
This all happened at about 6:45 a.m. Tuesday during rush hour.
"Obviously, in the middle of rush hour, you have cars and citizens around which obviously is a concern for the officers," Slinkard said.
Part of Bellaire Blvd. was shut down for several hours as investigators combed the scene for evidence. They retrieved a screwdriver and scissors at the scene.
The name of the suspect and the officer are not being released at this time.
Police said the officer will be placed on administrative duty while the investigation continues, which is customary for officer-related shootings.
Police said they are working to obtain surveillance video from a nearby pawn shop where the shooting took place.
