HARRIS COUNTY, Texas – A Harris County deputy fatally shot a suspect in north Harris County Friday morning, officials said.
Around 4:20 a.m., deputies were dispatched to an apartment complex in the 5000 block of Aldine Bender Road on reports of an officer-involved shooting. On arrival, they located an adult male dead at the scene.
The deputy was not harmed in the incident, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said.
This is second time deputies were called to the complex in less than 6 hours. Andrea Laberne says the man killed by deputies is her ex-brother in law. Her sister had a relationship with him.
“January 4th would have made a year that they were actually engaged even though they were separated since September,” she said.
Laberne says her mother and sister live at the apartment complex. They had their annual Christmas celebration before the shooting happened.
“I’m happy that my sister and my mom is okay but like I said it’s never a good thing when a family member has to die,” Andrea Laberne said.
Harris County deputies say it’s been a busy night responding to calls at the Costa Rialto Apartments on Aldine Bender Road. Lt. Robert Minchew says it started around 10:20 pm on Christmas Eve.
“A deputy arrived for a family disturbance terroristic type call where an ex-boyfriend was threatening his ex-girlfriend, threatening to shoot up the place,” he said.
Minchew says a deputy came to the complex, but the suspect had already left. The deputy took a report and six hours later another call came in about the same suspect at the apartment. When the deputy arrived, Minchew says the suspect was there and had a gun. Minchew says the suspect fired shots at the deputy after he told him to drop the weapon.
“Fortunately, he missed our officer. The deputy is fine. The deputy in fear of his life opened fire and shot and killed the suspect,” he said.
The HSCO says the suspect has an extensive history of family violence.
“The suspect also had an open warrant already for harassing communications with the same ex-girlfriend,” Minchew said.
Leberne says her sister and mother are not doing okay. She says she doesn’t remember her brother-in -law having a bad side.
“He was trying and it’s sad that it had to happen like this on Christmas Day,” she said.
Micnhew says there was only one officer involved and there were no witnesses to the shooting
The deputy is a 2-year veteran with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, with only 6 months on the patrol unit.
The investigation is on-going, and deputies say they will review the body cam footage.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.