Suspect killed in officer-involved shooting in SE Houston, another man arrested

HOUSTON - An investigation is underway following an officer-involved shooting that left one person dead and another arrested. 

Police said the shooting occurred in the 7500 block of Park Place Boulevard in southeast Houston around 6:05 p.m. Tuesday. 

Houston Police Department Chief Troy Finner said officers initially responded to a disturbance at the apartment complex. 

When officers arrived, police say they took a statement from a woman who claimed the suspect had choked her.

Finner said that once they were inside of the apartment, officers attempted to detain a Hispanic male, and that's when a struggle began. 

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Police said a second male in the apartment intervened by pulling officers' hands away from the suspect.

At that time, the suspect allegedly attempted to disarm an officer by removing his duty weapon from his holster.

According to HPD, the officer yelled that the suspect had possession of the weapon and it discharged.

Police say, fearing for his and the other officer’s safety, Officer A. Garza discharged his duty weapon at the suspect. 

The suspect, who is described as a Hispanic male in his early 30's, was shot and died at the scene.

The second male, identified as Francis Vasquez-Benitez, 18, is charged with assault of a peace officer.

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According to police, Officer Garza, was treated at the scene for a cut to his nose. Officer Garza is assigned to the Southeast Patrol Division and was sworn in as an officer in December 2018.

As is customary in HPD officer-involved shooting incidents in the 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.