HOUSTON, TX – A confrontation between Harris County Sheriff’s deputies and a man they were attempting to remove from hospital property ended in a fatal shooting late last night. The incident occurred shortly after 1 a.m. on Cypress Woods Medical Drive, following a report of trespassing.
Authorities say the sequence of events began when hospital security asked a man, who was sleeping in his car, to vacate the premises. When he refused to leave, deputies were summoned to the scene. This was reportedly not the first time the man had been found sleeping in his vehicle outside the hospital.
Upon arrival, deputies attempted to communicate with the man, but he remained uncooperative, according to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office. As the situation escalated, a deputy requested backup and proceeded to break the vehicle’s window in an effort to remove the man.
Once backup arrived, deputies managed to open the car door and attempted to subdue the man with a Taser. While the Taser had some effect, it was not enough to ensure compliance. The deputies then physically extracted the man from his vehicle.
As he was being removed, the man reportedly brandished a large butcher knife, prompting deputies to discharge their firearms. Two deputies fired their weapons, resulting in the man’s death. According to the Sheriff’s Office, the deputies acted out of fear for their lives.
The identity of the man has not yet been released, and the reasons for his presence at the hospital remain unclear. No deputies were injured during the incident. The Harris County Sheriff’s Office has announced plans to release body camera footage of the encounter within the next 45 days.
The community awaits further details as the investigation continues to unfold, with many questions still unanswered about the circumstances that led to this tragic outcome.