Weapons Found in Car Chase Suspect's Vehicle Chase Ends On 610 West Loop Near Galleria

Last Edited: Tuesday, 29 Apr 2008, 7:33 PM CDT

Created: Tuesday, 29 Apr 2008, 10:37 AM CDT

FOX 26 News

Three weapons were found in a vehicle used in a fatal central Houston car chase Tuesday morning.

During a thorough search of the man's vehicle at a print stall, investigators found two pistols and a shotgun, one of which was within the reach of the suspect, officials told FOX 26. The 52-year-old man driving a black sport utility vehicle was shot as he got out of the vehicle and died at Ben Taub Hospital.

The man's identity has not yet been released.

An officer with the Houston Police Department told FOX 26 News the man was shot as he exited the vehicle after pulling off the southbound lanes of the 610 West Loop at Post Oak Boulevard, where the chase ended at 10:35 a.m.

The chase started at about 9:45 a.m. when an officer pulled the man over for a traffic stop on Highway 288 near the 610 South Loop. The officer that pulled the man over spoke to the driver, took the man's license and found out he had a concealed handgun license before fleeing the scene.

Officers communicating over police scanners during the chase said the man was armed.

The driver led police onto the northbound lanes of Interstate 45, the North Freeway, before taking the westbound exit onto Interstate 10, the Katy Freeway.

At 10:35 a.m., the driver took the southbound exit for the 610 West Loop before exiting at Post Oak Boulevard and pulling over.

Three officers surrounded the car, however, the man would not get out of the car or put his hands in the air. Two of the officers moved in closer, with guns drawn, while the other went to the passenger side of the vehicle and broke a window.

As the man started to get out of the car, police said the man made an overt gesture as if he were reaching for something on the car's floor board.

Two officers who feared for their lives ended up firing their weapons. Officials investigating the shooting have not said how many bullets were fired or where the bullets hit the suspect.

The entire chase was caught on camera by a patrol car's dash cam. Police have not said if and when that video could be released.

Investigators said they are not sure why the man fled the traffic stop, whether or not the man had any warrants or what his motive might have been for leading police on a chase.

Congestion in the southbound lanes of the 610 West Loop and southbound lanes of the 610 feeder road remain backed up until 2 p.m.. Drivers on the southbound lanes of 610 were also prohibited from exiting at Post Oak Boulevard.