SPRING, Texas – One person was killed Friday and another person was injured when a Harris County deputy’s gun fired during a struggle at a Spring home, authorities said.
The shooting was reported about 5:30 a.m. in the 17900 block of Seven Pines Drive.
VIDEO: Investigators discuss deadly shooting
"I heard arguing down the way, and it got pretty loud and then I heard a gunshot," said neighbor Anne Herigstad.
Harris County Senior Deputy Thomas Gilliland said a caller reported hearing a gunshot and people arguing next door. A deputy arrived at the scene and was confronted by a man at the home, Gilliland said. The man and the deputy began struggling and a neighbor ran over to help the deputy, Gilliland said.
The deputy’s gun fired during the struggle, killing the man and injuring the neighbor, Gilliland said.
"Some time during the physical struggle there, the deputy discharged his weapon one time striking the suspect inside the home. The neighbor that came to help the deputy was also struck," said Ken Lobo, a next door neighbor.
"Woke us all up this morning -- all the sirens coming up the street," Lobo said. "I talked to (the man who died) a couple times, he seemed like a real nice fellow. I had no problem with him."
The neighbor who came to help suffered an injury to his lower arm that is not life-threatening, Gilliland said.
"It seemed like he was OK this morning. It was his lower arm and he had it wrapped in a towel. He seemed like he was OK, talking calmly with police," Lobo said.
The man’s wife, with whom he was arguing, and the deputy were not injured, Gilliland said.
Gilliland said investigators are still trying to determine how the deputy’s gun fired.
Deputies have been called to the home in the past, Gilliland said.
He said the deputy is a seven-year veteran assigned to the patrol division.
"He'll be on a mandatory five-day administrative leave, where they'll go through a medical and also psychological testing," Gilliland said. "After that five-day period, whenever he's cleared, he'll have a review with the major of the bureau; after that he'll be released to duty."