Officer fatally shoots naked man during bizarre confrontation

Wounded suspect tried to steal patrol car

By Laura Whitley / abc13.com

(10/18/07 - KTRK/HOUSTON) - A Houston police officer shot and killed a man who confronted him in northwest Houston. The incident happened on TC Jester near DeSoto.

There are conflicting stories at the scene. One thing we know for sure is that a confrontation between a Houston police officer and a man ended with a deadly shooting.

Police say it all started when the suspect confront the office while he was finishing up paperwork after a traffic stop. The confrontation escalated and the officer called for backup.

Officers say the man then ripped off all of his clothes, including his underwear. The officer shocked the naked man with a Taser, but that had no effect. The suspect continued to threaten the officer, so the lawman shot the man with his gun.

But even after the naked man was shot, police say he just kept going.

"The suspect gets up after being shot and goes into the patrol car, attempting to leave in the patrol car," said Joanna Abad with the Houston Police Department. "At this time, the officer receives backup and is assisted in efforts to get the suspect out of the car and into custody. The suspect gets out and runs into the woods. This is where he expires."

Witness Rhonda King said, "I thought I was watching TV. I thought I was watching 'Cops.' When I went home, I burst out crying. I told my son I felt like I was watching TV. I saw all of this."

Relatives identify the man who was shot and killed as Raymond Smith, Jr., 28. They say they aren't getting the answers they want from police. One of many unanswered questions in this continuing investigation is whether or not the suspect was armed.

 

(Copyright © 2007, KTRK-TV)