Officer Shoots, Kills Man After Taser Threat

Police: Man Threatened Officer Before Shooting

POSTED: Sunday, August 2, 2009

UPDATED: 8:32 pm CDT August 2, 2009

HOUSTON -- Houston Police Department spokesman Victor Sientes said an off-duty HPD officer shot and killed a man at the Woodland Hills Village Apartments while working as a security guard.

According to officials, Officer Ryan Gardner was making his rounds at the building, located at Lake Hills and Woodland Hills drives, at about 10:20 p.m. Saturday when he came upon a man and woman arguing in the parking lot and attempted to break them up.

Police said the man began fighting with Gardner, was able to wrest away the officer's Taser gun, and then threatened to shoot Gardner with it.

Gardner feared for his life, authorities said, and pulled out his service revolver and fired several shots at the man.

The man was pronounced dead at the scene. The officer and the woman were not injured.

According to HPD officials, Gardner worked out of the northeast substation and will be placed on administrative duty while the incident is investigated by the homicide unit, internal affairs, and the Harris County District Attorney's Office.

Gardner has worked with HPD for seven years.

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