Investigation underway after HCSO deputy shoots man outside Walgreens, sheriff's office says

HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) -- Two investigations are underway after authorities say a deputy shot and critically injured a man in a northwest Harris County parking lot Saturday evening.

The Harris County Sheriff's Office said deputies responded to the Walgreens at 12097 Veterans Memorial at about 8:42 p.m.

Employees reported that the man was harassing customers in the parking lot, HCSO Asst. Chief J. Nanny said at the scene.

"The deputy approached the male who was sitting right outside -- still at the store, and he attempted to detain him so he could investigate the matter," Nanny said. "The suspect got up and started walking away and became non-compliant at that time."

The sheriff's office stated that the deputy followed the man approximately 50 yards and continued to issue verbal commands for him to stop, but he refused to comply, so the deputy tased him.

According to the assistant chief, the deputy tased the man for a second time after the first taser strike was "ineffective." He said the second strike was also "ineffective" so the deputy followed the man before holding him at gunpoint.

"The suspect continued to be non-compliant and at that point, the deputy ended up discharging his firearm one time, striking the male in his wrist and in the hip," Nanny said.

The man was taken to a hospital in critical condition, HCSO said.

On Monday, a sheriff's office spokesperson told ABC13 the man is expected to live, but was unable to provide additional details on his condition.

Nanny said they had already received a call about the same man earlier in the day, but he was gone when deputies arrived.

"So he (the deputy) advised the employees here to go ahead and call back if the male came back, so they did," Nanny added. "Also, historically, this male has been here - he's been given numerous, like 15, criminal trespasses in the past. And he continues to come back, so he's obviously been here harassing customers for quite a while."

HCSO said the deputy was not injured in the shooting.

"We don't have a lot of answers as to what happened, causing the deputy to discharge his firearm," Nanny told ABC13 Saturday evening.

Eyewitness News asked the sheriff's office to explain how the man was "non-compliant" and if the altercation was violent. The sheriff's office responded with the following statement:

"The deputy is on administrative leave in accordance with departmental policy. The incident is the subject of a criminal investigation and an internal affairs investigation."

Nanny confirmed the man who was shot was unarmed at the time of the incident.

The shooting is at the center of the Harris County Sheriff's Office and the Harris County District Attorney's Office investigations.

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