A Texas Department of Public Safety trooper fatally shot a man Wednesday moments after he watched him trying to open the doors of passing cars in the middle of a busy northwest Harris County roadway, officials said.
The trooper saw the man about 3:15 p.m. along the 15000 block of FM 529.
"He was in the middle of traffic, attempting to open up car doors as they were traveling," said Sgt. John Sampa, a spokesman with the state agency.
Witnesses said the man, who appeared to be in his late teens or early 20s, would switch from the east to westbound lanes of the freeway.
He was armed with a small-caliber semi-automatic pistol, but officials said his plans weren't obvious because the passing motorists kept their doors locked.
The trooper, a 12-year department veteran, pulled into the nearby Walmart parking lot to investigate. He never got out of his squad car, Sampa said.
"The suspect approached his vehicle (then) pulled his weapon on the trooper," Sampa said.
The trooper, who has not been identified, drew his own pistol and fired once, Sampa said.
"He trooper did not have time to get out of his vehicle. He made the shot from the vehicle," Sampa said.
The man was so close to the trooper that his pistol was later found inside the trooper's patrol car.
The man staggered back, collapsing behind a hedgerow at the end of the store parking lot. He died at the scene.
The trooper was not hurt, and no other injuries were reported, officials said.
The Texas Rangers and the Harris County District Attorney's Office are investigating. The trooper will put on on administrative duties, a standard protocol.
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