Armed man shot by deputies was military vet-turned-firefighter, suspect's friend tells ABC13
HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) -- The man, who was shot and killed by deputies after they say he shot at them, was a military veteran and former firefighter, ABC13 has learned.
Sources and a friend of the suspect told ABC13 that the man has been identified as Jonathan Yi, 45. Appraisal records list him as the homeowner of the residence in the 15400 block of Flemington Avenue.
Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said the shooting happened in the front of the home and the man died in the front yard.
In an afternoon press conference, Gonzalez said it all started when neighbors reported an abandoned vehicle in the middle of the road with its doors wide open at about 10:50 a.m. Friday.
HCSO said when the first deputy arrived, he heard shots being fired inside the residence and called for additional units.
"They began hearing additional shots coming from inside the house, but this time, they were shooting out through a window towards our deputies," Gonzalez said. "At that point, nobody had been hurt."
Deputies then reportedly set a perimeter and called their crisis negotiation team since Gonzalez said it involved a potential barricaded suspect.
While deputies were securing the perimeter outside, officials said the suspect exited the home holding two rifles. That's when five deputies opened fire and hit the suspect. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
WATCH: HCSO provides live update after suspect who fired at law enforcement was shot and killed by deputies
While deputies were entering the house to check if anyone was inside or hurt, they noticed different wires laid out.
"There was evidence the house was booby trapped, which is a unique but dangerous element. Someone can go in and it could be catastrophic," Gonzalez said.
Officers spent the next few hours clearing the house and making sure it was safe. No explosives were found.
"I want to say that we've had previous calls for services here at this location. Most have been related to either domestic disturbance type calls as well as other mental health related type calls," Gonzalez said.
Yi was an Army veteran and a former Beaumont firefighter, ABC13 has learned. In 2020, the department requested a welfare check at the house because they had not heard from him. He was advised to call his commanding officer.
"That man was a wonderful person. He was a fireman after his military service. Just his PTSD got the best of him. We are vets and people don't understand what we vets go through," Yi's friend said to ABC13.
Court records show he had an open warrant for narcotics after violating conditions of community supervision.
No deputies were injured in the shooting, according to HCSO.
