TEXAS CITY, Texas – A 72-year-old man was reportedly shot by a Texas City officer during a domestic dispute on Friday.
Officers say they received calls regarding a family disturbance on 11th Street at 5th Avenue North around 3:40 p.m.
According to police, the elderly man, who officials identified as Juan Bernal Benavides Jr., was shot in the stomach after failing to comply with officers as he held a woman at knifepoint.
The officer who reportedly opened fire told investigators he asked Benavides multiple times to drop the weapon before shooting him.
The woman who was being held by Benavides was able to get away after he was shot.
Benavides was taken by ambulance to HCA Houston Healthcare Clear Lake Hospital where he remained in an unknown condition as of Friday night. Authorities say he will be held in custody without bond after he’s out of the hospital due to an outstanding warrant and a parole violation.
KPRC looked into Benavides’ past criminal history and found that he had previously been arrested for burglary, aggravated kidnapping with intent to violate or sexually abuse a victim, failure to ID, and failure to register as a sex offender.
The officer who shot Benavides has been placed on administrative leave, and the Galveston County Sheriff’s Office is now investigating.