Lake Jackson officers shoot chase suspect to death after he charged at them with knife, police say

LIVERPOOL, Texas (KTRK) -- A chase in Brazoria County ended with the deadly shooting of a suspect who was initially found in an elementary school's dumpster in Lake Jackson, according to Lake Jackson police.

Just before 10 a.m. Thursday, Lake Jackson police responded to a call regarding a man inside a dumpster at O.M. Robert's Elementary School.

Just before officers arrived, the man had reportedly stolen a truck from someone nearby.

A pursuit ensued, which led officers across several state highways and county roads, according to police.

The suspect eventually rammed a civilian, and a police vehicle, and then tried to run over an officer, police said.

That's when DPS officials deployed spikes, causing the suspect to crash into a ditch. The chase ended just before 11 a.m. on Highway 35 at County Road 192.

As officers approached the vehicle, they said the suspect got out and charged at two officers with a large blade knife which was recovered at the scene, according to police. In response, officers shot the suspect to death.

Amelia Martinez, who was across the street at a Dollar General and witnessed the crash and shooting, questions the police narrative.

"I didn't see (a) weapon or nothing. There (were) multiple people that even said the same thing. They didn't see no large weapon, or whatever they said," Martinez said.

Corina Recendez was also an eyewitness. She doesn't believe the man charged at deputies based on what she saw since he had just crashed into a ditch.

"The way he was slanted, there's no way he could just get out and start charging. It was dipped down It would maybe look like that, but he was falling out," she said.

The suspect's identification has not yet been released.

The Lake Jackson officers involved were placed on administrative leave with pay, pending the outcome of an investigation. The Texas Rangers are investigating this shooting, but so far, they have not reached out to the witnesses.

SkyEye video captured the scene, where a white sheet was placed over the suspect's body.

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