Houston Officer Shoots, Kills Man

Man Fired Shots, Pointed Weapon At Officers, Police Say

POSTED: Sunday, September 20, 2009

UPDATED: 12:02 pm CDT September 20, 2009

HOUSTON -- A police officer shot and killed a man at a northwest Houston residence Saturday night.

Gary R. Varner, 39, was shot one time by the front door of his house at about 10:40 p.m., Houston police said. He was armed with a gun that had a red laser on it and was pointed in the direction of SWAT officers, according to police.

One officer, senior police officer Richard Kent, fired his weapon and hit Varner, police said. He was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.

Officers were initially called to the house because Varner had pointed the gun and threatened three neighbors who were in his front yard.

After threatening to kill the neighbors, he went into the house and chased his wife and adult son out of the home, police said. Multiple shots were fired inside the house.

When the first officer arrived, Varner came to the front door but refused to cooperate with the officer and barricaded himself inside. He came to the door a number of times and fired other shots from inside to the outside of the house while officers were there.

SWAT was called a little after 8:30 p.m.