Just before 5:30 pm, a white male entered the AT&T Store at FM2978 and FM 1488. He walked up to the only two people in the store which were the sales associates. He raised his shirt and advised them,” this is no joke give me your money”,” as he displayed a pistol in his waistband. The sales associates gave him the cash till and he left the store.
The sales associates reported the robbery and an attempt to locate was issued. Within minutes a deputy spotted the vehicle and the white male and attempted to stop him. At speeds of up to 100 MPH deputies chased him almost seven miles to IH 45 at which time he turned north and continued to River Plantation. He then turned back southbound on the feeder. Just before he got to the intersection on SH 242 he apparently saw the heavy traffic at the light and attempted a quick turn from the left lane into the College Plaza Shopping Center. Missing the first entrance he attempted entering the wrong way at which point he struck Patrick McCracken of Splendora in his black Tundra pickup. The deputy then slips into the rear of the suspect’s vehicle. Jumping out the deputy ordered the suspect to show his hands. It was too late. Just before the deputy got out the suspect placed his pistol in his mouth and pulled the trigger killing him.
McCracken said he saw the chase coming at him as he waited for traffic to turn south on IH45. He waited as the vehicles quickly approached. He then saw the vehicle cut and head direct for him at which time he dove across the front seat with his foot now on the accelerator in an attempt to cover his son his body. McCracken said he heard the shot but did not see it.
Behind McCracken was Debbie Almazan, her daughter Stephanie Jones and Jones’s 6-month-old son. They said they saw the vehicle attempt to turn in and strike the McCracken Toyota. “The cop was coming out of his car when the guy in the Honda pulled out his gun,” Jones said.
They attempted to shift into reverse to avoid a confrontation. Almazan said,” It kind of scares me because one second later it could have been us.”
McCracken agreed with her statement saying,” there is no telling which direction that gun could have fired”.
The suspect has not been identified pending notification of next of kin.
