Houston Police Release Bodycam Footage of Machete Incident

Last week, the Houston Police Department shared bodycam footage from an incident on May 16, which captured officers pursuing and shooting a man wielding a machete. The event began after police received a call from a Family Dollar store located on Almeda Road around 3:25 PM, reporting a theft.

The suspect was later identified as 33-year-old Duke Harrison, according to reports from KPRC-TV. Officers tracked Harrison down on the Southmore Boulevard Bridge over Highway 288.

The footage, part of a video released by the department, features clips from three different officers as they chased the suspect from both sides of the bridge. One officer, who was closest to Harrison, shouted commands like, “Stop! Raise your hands!” Yet, Harrison continued to approach the officers with the machete in hand.

The officer identified as Officer L. Jumonji subsequently fired at Harrison, leading to the altercation. In the video, Harrison collapses on the bridge, where he is disarmed and handcuffed.

Officers who were present offered medical aid soon after the shooting. As they rolled Harrison onto his back, one officer discovered he had suffered a gunshot wound to the head. By the end of the video, five officers can be seen attending to him.

Paramedics transported Harrison to a hospital, but he succumbed to his injuries on May 20. Thankfully, the officer who discharged his weapon was unharmed.

Officer Jumonji, who has been with the department since December 2021, is currently under investigation. Police informed KPRC that the HPD Special Investigation Division and the Harris County District Attorney’s Office are involved in the inquiry into the shooting.

When approached for comment regarding the earlier robbery at Family Dollar, an employee stated they were unable to discuss the incident, citing an ongoing investigation.