September 24, 2012 - Houston police are investigating an incident in which an HPD officer discharged his duty weapon and fatally wounded a suspect at 4309 Polk about 2:20 a.m. on Saturday (Sept. 22). 

The suspect, Brian C. Claunch, 45, as pronounced dead at the scene.

Officer M. Marin, assigned to the South Central Patrol Division, was not injured in this incident.  He was sworn in as an officer in September 2007.

HPD Homicide Division Sergeant J. Burton and Officer M. Brady reported:

Officers responded to a disturbance at the above residence, the Healing Hands Assisted Home Care, a residence for mentally challenged persons.  When officers arrived, they encountered the suspect, seated in a wheelchair.  The  suspect was agitated and began to yell at the officers and threatened to kill them and the other residents of the home.  As he yelled at the officers, he waved a shiny object in his hand in their direction.  The suspect refused the officers' verbal commands to drop the object and advanced in a threatening manner toward one of the officers.  As the suspect backed one of the officers into a corner, he attempted to stab the officer with the object.  Officer Marin, fearing for his partner's life, and his own safety, discharged his duty weapon one time, striking the suspect.  The object was discovered to be a shiny, ball point pen.

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



JKS/JFC  9-24-12
Inc. #120646512