According to the Harris County Sheriff's Office, that deputy was within 10 feet of a man who fired at him twice but missed.
It happened outside a pawn shop in the 9800 block of Airline Drive at West Louise.
Emergency medical crews left behind some of the suspect's clothes and shoes after treating him at the scene. With at least two gunshot wounds, he was rushed to the hospital where he died, and onlookers felt nothing.
"He deserves that. He's putting everyone else's life at risk," nearby resident Kriston Simmons said.
According to the Harris County Sheriff's Office, the man in his mid 20s had been inside the Cash America Pawn shop asking to see some jewelry. Following store policy, employees asked him for an ID, and when he wouldn't produce one, they called the sheriff's office.
"They felt he may have been casing the place for a robbery," Harris County Sheriff's Office Deputy Thomas Gilliland said.
As a deputy arrived, the suspect was leaving and that's when it all went bad.
"He asked the suspect for an ID. The suspect said that his ID was located in his vehicle. He followed him to his vehicle on the side," Gilliland said. "As the suspect reached into the vehicle, he produced a handgun from behind his waistband, pointed it at the deputy and fired twice. Our deputy, fearing for his life, fired back, striking the suspect two times."
Somehow the deputy managed to escape injury, even at close range. We've learned he's a reserve deputy and has been for 25 years, which means he faced a gun tonight for free.
Residents say the pawn shop has been a target and hope what happened sends a message.
"They need to go get a job. That's what they need to do instead of robbing people," Simmons said.
The reservist is actually a lieutenant. He will have to undergo psychological and medical counseling before he can return.
All we know about the suspect is that he's a Hispanic man in his mid-20s.
Find Jessica on Facebook at ABC13JessicaWilley or on Twitter at @jwilleyabc13
Take ABC13 with you!
Download our free apps for iPhone, iPad and Android devices
