Atascocita, TX — An off-duty Harris County sheriff’s deputy fatally shot a 27-year-old man on Friday afternoon after the man allegedly tried to enter the deputy’s vehicle while his baby was strapped in a car seat, according to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO).
Incident Unfolds in Residential Neighborhood
The shooting occurred around 2:45 p.m. in the 5300 block of Treewood Drive in Atascocita, after the off-duty deputy called 911 reporting that he had someone at gunpoint. Dispatchers said gunshots were heard during the call moments later.
According to Maj. Ben Katrib with HCSO, the deputy had just finished securing his infant child in a rear child seat when an unknown man approached and attempted to enter the vehicle.
Deputy Fired to Protect Child, Officials Say
Investigators said the deputy repeatedly ordered the man not to get into the vehicle, but the suspect ignored his commands. When the man opened the vehicle door, the deputy, fearing for his child’s safety, fired multiple shots, striking the man.
The suspect was transported to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. Authorities said the man lived about a block away from where the shooting took place, but there was no prior connection between him and the deputy.
Suspect Identified as Darrius Williams
Family members identified the deceased man as Darrius Williams, 27, who reportedly suffered from schizoaffective disorder. His mother, Tieneeshia Williams, spoke with local media, saying her son had struggled with mental health challenges for years.
“The mental health system is set up for failure. It is not helpful to the patient, nor is it helpful to caregivers,” Tieneeshia Williams told Click2Houston, expressing frustration with the lack of long-term support for individuals with serious mental illnesses.
Family Says Williams Had Recent Mental Health Episodes
According to Williams’ mother, she took him to a psychiatric center the previous Sunday, but he was released shortly after. Two days later, he was arrested on a warrant after reportedly walking into traffic.
Once he returned home, Tieneeshia Williams said she again contacted law enforcement on Thursday to report his behavior.
“I told them he’s talking to himself. He’s agitated. He’s doing push-ups in the street. He’s jogging. He thinks he’s in the army,” she said. “He’s done a lot of aggressive moves and tactics but not harming anyone, so they can’t do anything about it. I just wanted it documented so that an officer would not approach him thinking he was trying to be violent.”
Investigation and Grand Jury Review
Authorities said the shooting remains under active investigation. The Harris County District Attorney’s Office will review the findings, and the case will be presented to a grand jury, as is standard procedure for all officer-involved shootings.
The Harris County Sheriff’s Office has not released the name of the off-duty deputy involved in the shooting.
What are your thoughts on this tragic shooting in Atascocita? Do you think Texas needs stronger mental health intervention policies to prevent incidents like this? Share your opinions and condolences in the comments below.
