July 10, 2012 - Houston police are investigating the fatal shooting of a male by an HPD officer at 7000 Bissonnet about 4:20 p.m. on Monday (July 9).

The identity of the deceased male, 54, is pending notification to family members by the Harris County Insititute of Forensic Sciences. 

The officer who discharged her duty weapon, J. McGowan, was not injured.  Officer McGowan, assigned to the South Gessner Patrol Division, was sworn in as an officer in September 2010.

HPD Homicide Division Senior Police Officers M. Khan, S. Anderson and Officers M. Chaney and I. Ulloa reported:

Officer McGowan and her partner responded to an assault in-progress call at a shopping center at the above address.  The caller advised there were five or more suspects assaulting a male.  The officers arrived and saw several males fitting the description of the suspects along the vacant portion of the shopping center.

When the officers exited their patrol vehicle, one of the males began to walk away from the group.  Officer McGowan gave verbal commands to the male, in English and Spanish, ordering him to return.  As Officer McGowan approached the suspect, she noticed a bulge concealed underneath his shirt, near his waistband, which he was holding with his left hand.  The suspect did not comply with Officer McGowan’s verbal commands to stop and show his hands, and continued to walk away.  As Officer McGowan drew her duty weapon, her partner ran toward her direction to help.  The suspect then reached into his left side waist band.  The officers continued to give verbal commands to the suspect in English and Spanish.  The suspect, with both hands on his left side, attempting to pull a concealed object out of his waist band, turned towards Officer McGowan.  The officer, fearing for her life and the life of her partner, then discharged her duty weapon one time. striking the suspect in the chest.  HFD paramedics were called and pronounced the male deceased.  A preliminary search of the suspect indicated he did not have a weapon.  Officers recovered the object (a can of beer) he was concealing.

As is customary in HPD officer-involved shooting incidents in the city limits, the case is being investigated by the HPD Homicide and Internal Affairs Divisions, as well as the Harris County District Attorney's Office.

JFC/JKS    7-10-12
Inc #086965012