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In Chambers County, Texas, law enforcement officials fatally shot a man armed with an AR-style weapon after he held his ex-girlfriend and their 3-year-old child hostage during a pursuit, announced Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez on Tuesday.
The deceased was identified as Christian Acosta, 39 years old, by family members.
The incident began with a call from a relative of Acosta’s ex-girlfriend around 6 a.m., reporting that Acosta had abducted the 29-year-old woman and the toddler from a residence on Desert Flower near Highway 249 in the Fallbrook area.
Acosta, the child’s father, and the woman were in a common-law relationship, according to authorities. He allegedly broke down the door, fired shots, then fled with the pair.
At approximately 9:15 a.m., their vehicle was spotted in Fort Bend County, initiating a pursuit when Acosta refused to stop. The chase lasted for 45 minutes, spanning Fort Bend, Harris, and eventually Chambers County, with speeds reaching up to 100 mph. During the pursuit, a negotiator and the woman’s stepfather attempted to persuade Acosta to surrender, to no avail.
Authorities blocked off Plantation Drive at Highway 565 to prevent Acosta from reaching his house in the Cove area of Chambers County, where two additional children were located.
When deputies halted Acosta, he reached for his firearm, prompting two snipers from Chambers County’s Special Response Team to fatally shoot him, Gonzalez stated.
Fortunately, the woman and child emerged unharmed, and no law enforcement officers sustained injuries.
Gonzalez highlighted a history of abuse in the relationship, noting previous threats made by Acosta to take the woman to Mexico and harm her. The couple had recently separated, with the woman seeking refuge with relatives to evade Acosta.
Gonzalez emphasized the importance of seeking help from resources like the National Domestic Violence Hotline, available 24/7 at 1-800-799-SAFE, as well as through live chat or text.