Robbery suspect fatally shot at credit union in Brookshire

BROOKSHIRE, TX -- An officer-involved shooting outside a credit union in Brookshire, just west of Houston, claimed the life of a would-be robber. It happened Friday afternoon at the First Service Credit Union on 5th Street near Waller Avenue.

"Two or three shots, and then a rapid succession of shots, and then there was one final shot," witness Tom Knapp said.

The credit union's CEO said an off-duty police officer was inside the building working an extra job as a security guard when a suspect entered the lobby at about 2pm. The panic alarm was triggered and the officer tried to stop the suspect.

"The officer then chased the male outside, advised him to stop. The suspect turned with his weapon. The officer engaged that person," Brookshire Police Department Sgt. Jason Whittington said.

The officer fired multiple times, killing the man. The suspect did not fire a shot. No one else was injured. David Bleazard, CEO of First Service Credit Union, expressed relief that no one else was hurt in the incident.

"You can do many things to try to mitigate the risks, but when you're dealing with money, there's always a risk, of someone who is determined, who can hold you up and put your employees' lives at risk," Bleazard said. "I never take that for granted."

The officer, who has been with Brookshire PD for just under two years, is now on administrative leave. The bank is closed for now.

"We're very concerned that our employees, having been through a traumatic experience, that emotionally they're OK, that they're physically OK," Bleazard said. The identities of the 49-year-old suspect and the officer have not been released. The investigation is ongoing.