City of South Houston Police Chief Herbert Gilbert says two officers on Friday saw a crowd of people in the parking lot of the South Houston Funeral Home in the 1500 block of Houston Boulevard. They then spotted a young man brandishing a gun.
One of the officers confronted the suspect and asked him to drop his weapon. The suspect then apparently pointed the gun toward the officer and fired one shot, Gilbert said. That's when the officer discharged his weapon and shot the suspect once in the chest.
The suspect was transported to Memorial Hermann Hospital. He was alert, but his condition is unknown.
Gilbert identified the suspect Saturday as 25-year-old Jerome Barrera Jr.
Police are trying to figure out why the gunman was outside of the funeral home. No one was allowed inside or outside the viewing as they worked the scene.
"We don't know whether he's part of the family or friends or what at this time," Gilbert said.
"It's so hard to go through all of this and then have to deal with something like this as well -- really devastating," said Marisela Benavides, who was trying to attend a viewing.
Authorities are still investigating the shooting.
No other details have been released.
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