HOUSTON – The 33-year-old suspect who was shot by a Houston police officer last Friday following a robbery call at a Family Dollar remains hospitalized.
Earnest Duke Harrison, 33, is charged with aggravated assault against a public servant and aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon.
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The shooting happened on Friday after police responded to reports of an armed robbery at a Family Dollar near the 5100 block of Almeda Road. Police learned the suspect, identified as Harrison, had stolen some merchandise and had threatened employees with a large knife on his way out of the store.
Officers later found Harrison at the Southmore Blvd. bridge over Highway 288.
There, HPD says officers gave the suspect verbal commands to stop. Instead, they said the man advanced towards one of the officers while wielding a machete.
The officer, identified by HPD as Officer L. Jumonji, fired at Harrison, hitting him. Paramedics took Harrison to the hospital in critical condition. Officer Jumonji was not hurt.
HPD says Jumonji has been an officer with the department since Dec. 2021.
"As is customary in HPD officer-involved shooting incidents in the Houston city limits, this case is being investigated by the HPD Special Investigations Unit, the Internal Affairs Division and the Harris County District Attorney’s Office," HPD said.