Deputy kills man holding rifle in NE Harris County

A veteran Harris County Sheriff's deputy shot and killed a man who had threatened
him with a Taser at a home in the Atascocita area early this morning after an alleged assault at a nearby bar, officials said.

The deputy also shot the man's dog which became very aggressive after the man told the animal to attack the lawman during a confrontation before the fatal shooting.

The shooting occurred at the house in the 3800 block of Beckett Ridge Drive about 12:15 a.m., according to the Harris County Sheriff's Office.

The man, whose name has not been released, was shot at least once and died at the scene.

The deputy, whose name has not been released, was not injured. He’s been with the sheriff’s office for 19 years.

The deputy drove to the home in northeast Harris County to investigate an assault that had taken place a short time earlier at a sports bar on FM 1960, said Deputy Janie Wagner, spokeswoman for the sheriff's office.

When the deputy walked to the front door the man, who was a suspect in the assault, opened the door and was holding a rifle, Wagner said.

The deputy convinced the man to put down the gun and then tried to take him into custody for the assault at the bar. But the man struggled against the deputy. Wagner said the deputy used his Taser on the man, but he was unaffected and yanked the Taser away from the deputy.

He pressed the Taser against the deputy as if he was about to use it. He also commanded his pitbull more than once to attack the deputy.

Fearing for his life, the deputy fired his handgun at least once, hitting the man, Wagner said.

Then he shot the dog, which had become very agitated and aggressive toward him, Wagner added. Officials did not know the the dog’s condition.

The man's wife was at home at the time of the shooting. She was not hurt.

It is unclear what led to the alleged assault at the bar.

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