KINGWOOD, Texas – Authorities are trying to piece together what led up to a San Jacinto County deputy shooting a man in custody at a Kingwood hospital Monday night several times, killing him.
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It happened around 9 p.m. when Captain Hassig with the Houston Police Department said a deputy with San Jacinto Co. Sheriff’s Office was monitoring an unidentified man, described only as a suspect, to HCA Houston Healthcare in Kingwood.
It’s unclear exactly how everything transpired, but Captain Hassig said the man was a hospital patient since Monday but it’s unclear what he was brought for initially or what he was previously arrested for.
At some point while the San Jacinto Co. deputy was monitoring the man, Cpt. Hassig said there was a fight inside the hospital room that led to a scuffle over the officer’s gun.
“The deputy who was watching him tonight was inside the room with the prisoner,” he explained. “An altercation ensued inside the room. There was a scuffle for the deputy’s gun, at which point the deputy was able to discharge his weapon a few times--striking the prisoner. Being at the hospital, aid was rendered immediately by personnel here, and unfortunately, that individual succumbed to his injuries and died.”
Officials described the deputy as having 5 months with the San Jacinto Co. Sheriff’s Office and the department is conducting an administrative investigation into what happened.
However, since the incident occurred in Houston, HPD’s Homicide Division is taking the lead with the Texas Rangers to figure out everything and present what they’ve gathered to the Montgomery Co. District Attorney’s Office.
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Our cameras also caught up with the unidentified man’s sister, who told KPRC 2 she and her family were left with more questions than answers as they’re not being told everything that happened to her brother other than he was shot seven times.
“I’m feeling terrible,” she said. “All we need is answers.”