HOUSTON, Texas

Deputies from the Harris County Sheriff’s Office responded to a service call and, by what seems like divine intervention, avoided an ambush. When they arrived at a location in Humble, Texas, they encountered a man in black who opened fire from the woods. Fortunately for the deputy, the suspect’s rifle jammed, preventing the agent from being harmed.

Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez mentioned that he wasn’t sure why Kenyon Levor Coleman, 46, decided to shoot at the deputies. He speculated it might have been an attempt to set up an ambush.

In a post on social media, Gonzalez explained that Coleman had been lying in wait and opened fire as soon as the deputies reached the scene. Thankfully, when the rifle malfunctioned, Coleman fled into the woods on foot.

A pursuit ensued, and eventually, Coleman was apprehended. A rifle was also recovered during the incident.

Gonzalez noted that it appeared the initial call could have been a prank or “swatting” incident.

Court records reveal that Coleman had been arrested in March 2023 on a felony firearm charge related to owning an unregistered “machine gun.” Those charges were ultimately dropped due to insufficient evidence. According to District Clerk’s records, the 488th District Court Judge Matthew Penneguy ordered the gun returned to Coleman in March 2024. The firearm was classified as an AK-47. The judge also mandated the return of a body armor vest, two ballistic plates, and some 7.62x39mm ammunition.

The weapon seized during this latest incident also appeared to be an AK-47, and the spent shell casing was notably clogged. Sheriff Gonzalez shared a photo showing a chair positioned at the edge of the woods.

Fortunately, no deputies were injured in this encounter, and Coleman is now in custody, though current prison records do not indicate he has been formally booked.