Man wanted for several violent crimes shot to death by officers during arrest, sheriff says

HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) -- A murder suspect was shot to death Tuesday by members of the Gulf Coast Violent Offenders Task Force during an arrest attempt, Sgt. Ben Beall with the Harris County Sheriff's Office said.

It happened at about 11:25 a.m. at a Texan Inn & Suites in the 12200 block of Veterans Memorial when task force members were trying to arrest the suspect, Beall said.

According to Beall, the task force had been asked by the Houston Police Department for help in locating the fugitive.

The police department did already have a murder warrant out for the suspect.

Beall said someone in a van came to the inn to pick up the man.

Once officials had established surveillance and saw the suspect exiting the inn, they blocked him into the driveway, Beall said. That's when officials said the suspect exited the van and started running.

Beall said the suspect was armed and that's when five Gulf Coast Violent Offenders Task Force members, two Harris County Sheriff's Office deputies, two Texas Department of Corrections, and one U.S. Marshal discharged their weapons.

The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene, Beall said.

The suspect's pistol was recovered in the ditch where the man was found dead.

According to Beall, officials also used a Taser on the suspect and even bean bagged him.

While the suspect's name has not yet been released, Beall confirmed he was a Hispanic male between 20 to 25 years of age.

As for the driver of the van, he is in custody and was being interviewed, Beall said.

No law enforcement officers were hurt, officials said.

A man who works at a title loans store nearby said he saw the suspect get out of the vehicle with a handgun. He said it looked like the man tried to raise the weapon but did not have a chance to do so before officials opened fire.

The Gulf Coast Violent Offenders Task Force is a group of law enforcement officials spanning from different agencies. These officials specialize in finding fugitives usually wanted for very violent crimes.

Harris County Sheriff's Office's Criminal Investigation Unit and homicide investigators are assisting with the investigation.

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