October 26, 2022 - Houston police are investigating an incident in which an armed suspect was fatally shot by an HPD officer at 1700 Wirt Road about 7:55 a.m. on Tuesday (October 25).

The identity of the deceased male suspect is pending verification by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences.

HPD Officer I. Garcia, who discharged his duty weapon, was not injured in the incident. Officer Garcia was sworn in as an officer in May 2022 and is assigned to the Northwest Patrol Division.

HPD Special Investigations Unit Sergeant M. Glover and Detectives I. Ulloa, S. Mohajer and A. Henderson reported:

A female was driving her vehicle in the 7700 block of Long Point when a male (suspect) struck her vehicle with a flagpole and cracked the windshield. The female called 9-1-1 to request police assistance and Officer Garcia responded to the scene. He located the suspect on the corner of Long Point Road and Wirt Road.

Officer Garcia confronted the suspect in an attempt to detain him, but the suspect became aggressive. The suspect then produced a knife and walked directly toward the officer. Officer Garcia drew his duty weapon and, while increasing his distance from the suspect, gave him verbal commands to drop the knife. The suspect, still holding the knife, walked southbound on Wirt Road and grabbed the large metal flagpole as he walked on the sidewalk. Officer Garcia followed the suspect and, as he called for backup, gave the suspect verbal commands to stop and drop the weapons.

The suspect then abruptly turned to face Officer Garcia and went toward him with the knife in hand. Fearing for his safety, Officer Garcia discharged his duty weapon at least one time and the suspect was struck. Responding officers provided first aid to the suspect until Houston Fire Department paramedics arrived on scene and pronounced the suspect deceased.

As is customary in HPD officer-involved shooting incidents in the Houston city limits, this case is being investigated by the HPD Special Investigations Unit, the Internal Affairs Division and the Harris County District Attorney's Office.