By Mike Glenn
Houston Chronicle
CHANNELVIEW, Texas — A man who was shot to death in a gun battle with pursuing officers was a suspect in several ongoing homicide cases, authorities said Thursday.
A short chase ended in gunfire about 5 p.m. Thursday in a heavily industrial area along the 10200 block of Jacintoport near the East Freeway.
One man was fatally shot by investigators assigned to the U.S. Marshals Gulf Coast Violent Offender and Fugitive Task Force. A second person was taken into custody at the scene, authorities said.
“The whole thing is under investigation,” U.S. Marshal Gary Blankinship said at the scene.
They are suspects in at least four unrelated homicide cases in the Houston and Harris County area.
“There are warrants issued for the arrests,” Blankinship said.
He would not comment about the homicide cases other than to call them “brutal.”
Harris County sheriff’s investigators asked the Gulf Coast task force to take part in the search. Blankinship said the chase began when they tried to serve a warrant in the case.
He said the two people who were being chased were the first to open fire in the brief but deadly gunfight.
None of the investigators were injured, officials said.
Because several agencies take part in the U.S. Marshals Service-led task force, local, state and federal officials are investigating the fatal shooting.
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