February 12, 2021 - Houston police are investigating the fatal shooting of an armed suspect by an HPD officer at 2 Goodson Drive about 8:30 p.m. on Thursday (February 11).

The male suspect, Edwin Adan Velasquez, 20, was pronounced dead at the scene.

HPD Officers D. Shurtleff and Officer D. Coppola, who both discharged their duty weapons, were not injured in this incident.  Both officers are assigned to the North Belt Patrol Division.  Officer Shurtleff was sworn in as an officer in September 2018 and Officer Coppola was sworn in as an officer in January 2016.

HPD Special Investigations Unit Sergeant M. Burroughs, Senior Police Officers J. Hartnett, M. Millington and J. Young and Officer S. Martinez reported:

Officers Shurtleff and Coppola responded to a criminal mischief call at an apartment complex at the above address and approached the apartment.  As the officers were about to make contact with the residents inside the apartment, they observed the door to be partially open.  The officers then pushed the door open and observed Velasquez inside the doorway, pointing a gun at the officers.  Fearing for their lives, Officers Shurtleff and Coppola both discharged their duty weapons, striking Velasquez more than one time.  

As is customary in HPD officer-involved shooting incidents in the Houston city limits, this case is being investigated by the HPD Special Investigations Unit, the Internal Affairs Division and the Harris County District Attorney's Office.