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In a dramatic incident involving multiple members of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO), a 47-year-old gunman was fatally shot, and an innocent bystander sustained injuries on Sunday.
According to Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, the encounter began when a sergeant conducting traffic enforcement stopped the man for a broken tail light and expired registration near FM-1960 and Red Oak Drive around 3 p.m. The individual identified himself as a sovereign citizen and refused to comply with commands, insisting on speaking to a supervisor.
Several supervisors and deputies arrived to reason with the individual, who was discovered to have a felony warrant from Brazoria County for evading police. After discussions lasting over an hour, the man drove off, running over spike strips deployed by deputies. Following a brief chase, the HCSO performed a PIT maneuver to stop his vehicle on FM-1960 near Ella Boulevard.
Upon exiting his car, the man began shooting at deputies, prompting them to return fire, resulting in his death. Witnesses confirmed the sequence of events.
During the exchange, multiple bullets struck a school bus, although no children were aboard. One bullet passed through the bus, injuring a woman who was grocery shopping. She underwent surgery and is expected to recover.
The identity of the deceased suspect has not been released by the HCSO. Sheriff Gonzalez emphasized that compliance could have altered the outcome, cautioning against confrontations with law enforcement, especially in cases involving sovereign citizens who may reject authority.
“We have a responsibility, and our deputies do not have to allow anyone to violate the law,” Gonzalez stated.