Man shot and killed by US Marshals in SW Houston was wanted in South Carolina, police say

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- A suspect is dead after being shot by U.S. Marshals Southern District of Texas task force members outside an apartment complex in southwest Houston, according to police.

The shooting happened in the 1800 block of El Paseo Street, east of the Astrodome and near the Texas Medical Center, shortly after 8 a.m. Friday.

According to U.S. Marshal T. Michael O'Connor, members of the task force located a man wanted on multiple violent charges out of South Carolina, including weapons charges, sitting in a car outside the apartment complex.

Officers attempted to block the suspect in to prevent him from leaving. That's when the man attempted to flee and rammed one of their vehicles, Houston Police Asst. Chief Kevin J. Deese said.

As task force members got out of their vehicles and approached the suspect, he pulled out a firearm, Deese said.

That's when multiple officers discharged their firearms, shooting and killing the suspect. Investigators did not disclose how many shots were fired.

"Apparently, he began to try and engage with the marshals as they approached," O'Connor said. "Obviously, they had to fire upon this subject."

SkyEye video showed a red car with multiple bullet holes in the windshield and driver's side window. A gun was also seen on the hood of the car.

The Houston Police Department is the lead investigative agency on the case.

Officials did not immediately identify the man killed. No task force members were injured.

As for whether body-worn camera captured the confrontation, officials explained none of the federal agencies involved didn't require a camera.

Investigators believe he made his way out of South Carolina because an acquaintance lives in Houston. He reportedly had a lengthy criminal history in South Carolina.

Those who knew him say he went by the name "Rock" and would come to the complex to drop off food for his grandmother and run errands for her and his children. All they saw was a kind man who helped others, including them when they were in need.

"We knew about the history, but we never seen that. We never seen that side of him," Mari Sanchez, the suspect's friend, said.

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