Paper: Houston Chronicle

Date: Tue 08/21/2007

Man suspected of killing wife dies in police shootout / Authorities say he opened fire on officers at a church in West University

By JENNIFER LEAHY, DALE LEZON

A man who authorities say killed his estranged wife Monday and then drove to a West University Place church with her body in the car was fatally wounded after opening fire on police, the Houston Police Department said.

Less than an hour after gunning his wife down as she left a shuttle bus near the Parque View Apartments in the 1800 block of El Paseo, authorities said the man entered St. Mark's Episcopal Church about 6 p.m. and told those inside to call police.

"Immediately upon the suspect's exit, and the police officers' arrival, the suspect began engaging in fire. The officers returned fire, striking the man multiple times," said Houston police spokesman Bruce Williams.

The man was dead on arrival at a local hospital.

West University and Southside Place police officers responding to the distress call from the church were unaware that the unidentified suspect had dumped his wife's body in the 2007 Chrysler Sebring parked in the lot at St. Mark's on Bellaire Boulevard.

The officers had arrived to disarm a man, who according to initial reports, was seen on church grounds toting two pistols and a shotgun.

Officers found the body of his wife, believed to have been a student at the the University of Texas Dental Branch at Houston, in the rental car.

Williams said there is no indication that the man has a criminal history but that a protective order may have been in place at the time of the attack.

Church ties unknown

Williams said it is unknown what connection, if any, the couple had to the church. Those inside the church at the time were taken to HPD headquarters to be interviewed, police said.

It is unknown if shots fired by a West University or Southside police officer killed the man. The West University officer has been with the department for one year, but has six years of total police experience. The Southside officer is a 23-year veteran.

The Houston Police Department was called in to assist with the incident, which remains under investigation.

The names of the couple were withheld pending notification of family members and confirmation by the Harris County Medical Examiner's Office. At the scene late Monday, stunned area residents expressed shock and concern that such a crime could touch their neighborhood church, which is also home to a private school.

No one could be reached for comment at St. Mark's late Monday. According to the school's Web site, classes for students in kindergarten through 8th grade start today.

 

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