Houston man, police officer shoot at same time. Man's death is apparent suicide

A man is dead in an apparent suicide after Houston Police said attempts to get him to drop his weapon as he was standing in a north Houston street failed. A man is dead in an apparent suicide after Houston Police said attempts to get him to drop his weapon as he was standing in a north Houston street failed. Photo: OnScene.TV Photo: OnScene.TV Image 1 of / 5 Caption Close Houston man, police officer shoot at same time. Man's death is apparent suicide 1 / 5 Back to Gallery

A man is dead in an apparent suicide after Houston Police said attempts to get him to drop his weapon failed as he was standing in a north Houston street.

The man has not been identified and is said to have fired his weapon at his own head at the same time that a Houston police officer discharged their weapon, said Assistant Chief Sheryl Victorian.

The incident occurred as officers were responding to an urgent welfare check at the 2400 block of Charles Road in north Houston around 11:11 p.m. Thursday, Victorian said.

When they arrived, they found a man standing in the middle of the street holding a gun, she said. Several minutes later, the man aimed the gun toward his head, she said.

"Officers began giving him commands, asking him to put the weapon down," Victorian said. "Telling him we were here to help him."

At 11:37 p.m., two shots rung out. One shot was fired by the man and the second shot was fired by a responding officer, Victorian said. It is unclear whether the officer's bullet struck the man, she said. The man had a gunshot wound to his head, she said.

Officers began administering first aid, but the man was pronounced dead at the scene, she said.

Victorian said officers at the scene did "an amazing" job attempting to communicate with the man.

"He decided to take his life, unfortunately," she said.

She speculated that the officer may have discharged his/her weapon because they "felt threatened" or because they were "startled" causing an "unintentional discharge."

Victorian said officers were aware the man had told family members he was suicidal.

No other information is known at this time.

Michelle Iracheta is a digital reporter in Houston. Read her on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and on our subscriber site, houstonchronicle.com. | michelle.iracheta@chron.com | NEWS WHEN YOU NEED IT: Text CHRON to 77453 to receive breaking news alerts by text message | Sign up for breaking news alerts delivered to your email here.