Assault suspect shot by police after charging at them with a large knife.

On July 20, 2024, Houston Police Patrol Officers responded to an assault-in progress call at a gas station in the 3100 block of South Dairy Ashford Road and found the 27-year-old suspect had fled the scene northbound on foot. Officers then located the suspect south of the intersection of South Dairy Ashford and Westheimer Road. As the suspect fled from police, he fell in the parking lot in the 12600 block of Westheimer and an orange-colored knife fell out of the backpack he was carrying. The suspect picked up the knife and continued to run westbound, then turned northbound and ran into a cemetery in the 12800 block of Westheimer.

Officers followed the suspect into the cemetery and gave him repeated verbal commands to drop the knife, which he refused. Despite officers’ multiple attempts to peacefully de-escalate the incident, the suspect repeatedly yelled for officers to shoot him and charged at them with the knife in his hand. The suspect then fled further into the cemetery and, again, with the knife in his hand, charged at the officers. At that time, Officers Luu, Huynh and Deleon discharged their duty weapons and the suspect was struck. Officers provided medical assistance until Houston Fire Department paramedics responded to the scene and transported the male to Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital where he was pronounced deceased.