HOUSTON – A gunman shot his son-in-law outside his home, and then a deputy from Precinct Four shot the gunman Thursday morning in a Northwest Harris County Neighborhood.
The gunman and his son-in-law are both dead.
OUR FIRST REPORT: Father shot, killed by Harris County Pct. 4 deputy after fatally shooting son-in-law in child custody dispute
This is near Sam Houston Toll Parkway and Bammel North Houston Road.
The daughter of the gunman Daisy Jura identified her father as 78-year-old Rafael Rodriguez, who died at the hospital.
“My dad was the best man,” said Jura. “He did what he did because he loved his children.”
Deputies said this shooting stemmed from a child custody dispute.
Jura tells KPRC 2, at the center of it is Portillo’s two children, a 9-year-old girl and a 6-year-old boy.
Ever since Jura’s sister, or the children’s mother, passed away two years ago, Jura said there has been a heated child custody battle within the family.
“[Rodriguez] even went to court to try and see the kid,” said Jura. “He felt that in his heart that he needed to take care of that kid, no matter what. And he did it with both. He loved us, and he loved those kids. That’s what took him to do what he did."
The deputy involved in this shooting was placed on administrative leave.
Precinct Four Assistant Chief Toby Hecker said the deputy was called to the scene for the custody dispute and witnessed the shooting, prompting him to return fire.
