HCSO shootout with ‘sovereign citizen’ ends with man dead and innocent bystander injured

HARRIS COUNTY – A man who identified himself as a “sovereign citizen” was shot and killed by deputies after a short pursuit in northwest Harris County Sunday afternoon.

Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said deputies conducted a traffic stop and the driver refused to exit the vehicle.

After more than an hour, deputies said the man, who had a felony warrant out of Brazoria County, led them on a chase for about two minutes before they were able to conduct a successful pit maneuver.

The man then exited his vehicle, armed with a semi-automatic pistol, and started shooting at deputies. Deputies returned fire, shooting the suspect to death.

During the shootout, deputies said a vehicle parked nearby was hit and the woman inside suffered a gunshot wound. She’s expected to survive.

Deputies said a school bus was also hit during the shootout but the two people inside did not sustain any injuries. No children were on the bus at the time of the shooting, according to deputies.

No officers were injured in the shooting. In total, one sergeant and three deputies fired shots at the man.

Gonzalez confirmed the events that transpired on X:


About the Authors

Michael is a Kingwood native who loves shooting hoops, visiting local breweries and overreacting to Houston sports. He joined the KPRC family in the spring of 2024. He earned his B.A. from Texas A&M University in 2022 and his M.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2023.

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