ATASCOCITA, Texas — A tragic shooting involving an off-duty Harris County deputy has left one man dead and sparked an ongoing investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deadly encounter. The incident occurred late Thursday night in Atascocita, when a man allegedly attempted to enter the deputy’s personal vehicle.
According to Harris County Sheriff’s Office Major Ben Katrib, the deputy was off duty and inside his vehicle at the time of the confrontation. Preliminary information suggests that the man, whose identity has not yet been released, tried to get into the deputy’s car for reasons that remain under investigation. The deputy, reportedly feeling threatened, discharged his firearm, striking the man.
Emergency responders were called to the scene, but despite lifesaving efforts, the victim was pronounced deceased at the location. The deputy was not injured during the incident.
Major Katrib stated that homicide investigators, along with the Harris County District Attorney’s Office, are working to determine whether the deputy’s use of force was justified. Detectives are reviewing surveillance footage from nearby residences and businesses to piece together the sequence of events leading up to the shooting.
“This is a very active investigation,” Katrib said during a briefing. “We are working to understand exactly what occurred and ensure all evidence is collected and analyzed thoroughly.”
Residents in the area expressed shock and sadness over the tragedy. Several neighbors described hearing gunshots and then seeing a heavy police presence flood the neighborhood shortly after.
The name of the off-duty deputy has not been released at this time, pending an internal review by the Harris County Sheriff’s Office. Officials confirmed that the deputy has been placed on administrative leave in accordance with standard protocol during investigations of officer-involved shootings.
As investigators continue to gather evidence, the community is left grappling with unanswered questions about what led to the deadly confrontation — a situation that underscores the split-second decisions that can have devastating consequences.
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