March 17, 2011 - Houston police are investigating the fatal shooting of a male suspect by an off-duty HPD officer working an approved extra job at 6767 Bennington about 11:45 p.m. on Wednesday (March 16).

The suspect, age unknown, was pronounced dead at the scene.  His identity is pending notification to family members by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences.

Senior Police Officer S. Bryant, assigned to the Narcotics Division, was not injured in the incident.  Officer Bryant was sworn in as an HPD officer in May 1996.

HPD Homicide Division Sergeant J. Wilson and and Officer M. Stahlin reported:

Officer Bryant was off-duty and working an approved extra job at the Emerald Bay Apartments when he saw two men engaging in narcotics activity inside a parked vehicle.  Wearing clothing that identified him as a HPD officer, Officer Bryant approached the vehicle to investigate further and verbally identified himself as a police officer.  The officer gave the passenger verbal commands to step out of the vehicle.  The suspect ignored commands and began twisting in his seat.  As the suspect turned in the seat, the officer saw that the suspect was sitting on a pistol and that his movements were an effort to free the weapon. The officer repeated his commands for the suspect to get out of the vehicle, but the suspect refused and continued to try to free the gun.  Officer Bryant, in fear of his life, discharged his duty weapon at least one time, fatally striking the suspect.

A loaded weapon and narcotics were recovered from the suspect's vehicle.

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



JKS/VHS  3-17-11
Inc #033289911