Officer fatally shoots suspect outside Baybrook Mall

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A suspect was fatally shot in an encounter with a police officer near Baybrook Mall.

Houston police say they were patrolling a nearby neighborhood as part of an undercover crackdown on burglaries when officers spotted a smashed up red Saturn with broken lights and mirrors. A woman was driving the car, with a male passenger.

Just before 11am, police pulled the vehicle over in the parking lot of a vision store along the feeder road of the Gulf Freeway, just north of Bay Area Boulevard. Police say the man got out of the car with a gun.

Houston police spokesperson Victor Sentries said, "The officer and the suspect struggled for the weapon and the suspect managed to discharge his weapon one time over his shoulder in the direction of the officer practically at point blank range, almost striking the officer."

The officer's partner jumped into action.

"There continues to be a struggle for the weapon," Sentries explained. "The second officer runs around the back trunk area of the Saturn, gives the suspect repeated commands to drop the weapon, which he does not do."

Claiming to fear for his life and that of his partner, the officer shot and killed the suspect.

Witness Justin Conner said, "I saw a suspect body on the ground, bleeding on the ground with a uniformed cop over him. The suspect was not breathing or moving."

The suspect died at the scene. One Houston police officer suffered minor injuries.

The woman was taken into custody for questioning. The identities of the woman and the dead man have not been released.