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A suspect is dead after shots were fired as officers attempted to serve a capital murder arrest warrant on Houston’s north side on Wednesday morning. The suspect was one of four people involved in a recent murder, authorities said.
According to Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, the suspect was shot as the Gulf Coast Violent Offenders Task Force attempted to serve the warrant in the 700 block of N. Ella Creek Drive near Rankin Road.
Houston Police Department Asst. Chief Patricia Cantu said the man who was killed was the last of four suspects wanted in a murder that occurred on May 18 on Selinsky Road.
The other three suspects are reportedly in custody.
Eyewitness News learned from the suspect’s aunt that her nephew, Jamal Brown, was the one killed.
In an update, officials said two Harris County sheriff’s deputies, who are part of that task force, were the ones who discharged their firearms.
The Gulf Coast Violent Offenders Task Force is a multi-agency group that runs warrants for criminals in the area. HCSO Asst. Chief Tommy Diaz said there are currently 700 outstanding murder warrants in the Gulf Coast region.
Diaz said there was a brief standoff inside the home as they executed the warrant when the shots were fired. Brown was pronounced dead at the scene.
Officials believe the suspect fired first, but the investigation is ongoing and will be presented to a grand jury.
Although HCSO deputies fired the shots, the Houston Police Department will conduct the primary investigation since it happened within city limits, just blocks away from unincorporated Harris County.
Investigators said there were no reported injuries to law enforcement personnel. There were other adults inside the home when the warrant was served, but they were not injured.
The suspect reportedly did not live at the residence.
According to previous ABC13 reports, a man was found shot to death inside a vehicle that appeared to have been involved in a crash at an apartment complex at 5901 Selinsky Road on May 18.
The victim was later identified as 35-year-old Otis Parker Jr.
In a June 30 news release, HPD said Jarrell Tavon Wheeler, 21, had been arrested and charged with capital murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon for his role in the shooting. At the time, Brown, 21; Quitiana Rene Taylor, 21; and Mariah Corinthian Green, 23, were all still wanted on the same charges.
This incident highlights the dangerous and often unpredictable nature of law enforcement work. Serving arrest warrants can be a high-risk task, as officers never know how suspects will respond. The Gulf Coast Violent Offenders Task Force is a crucial unit that works tirelessly to apprehend dangerous criminals and bring them to justice. Despite the tragic outcome in this case, it is important to recognize the bravery and dedication of law enforcement officers who put their lives on the line to protect the community.
The investigation into this incident is ongoing, and all the facts surrounding the shooting will be presented to a grand jury. It is vital that a thorough and impartial investigation takes place to ensure transparency and accountability.
Our condolences go out to the family and friends of Otis Parker Jr., the victim of the original murder. It is our hope that justice will be served for him and his loved ones, and that the remaining suspects will be apprehended swiftly.
In the meantime, it is crucial for the community to support law enforcement agencies and work together to create safer neighborhoods. Cooperation between law enforcement and the public is essential in preventing and solving crimes..
