Suspect fatally shot by METRO police officer identified as Nolton Joseph LaFleur

HOUSTON -- A METRO police officer fatally shot an armed man in southwest Houston, police said.

Houston police said METRO police Officer R. Heandez spotted Nolton Joseph LaFleur III speeding on Fountain View Drive about 2:20 p.m. Tuesday.

Heandez followed LaFleur, 27, to an apartment complex security gate in the 6000 block of Fairdale Lane, police said.

Detectives said Heandez approached the car and a passenger, Brandon Stevenson, jumped out of the car.

Heandez saw a pistol in the center console cup holder behind LaFleur's hand, police said. He told LaFleur to put his hands up, officials said.

Investigators said the gate to the apartment complex opened and Stevenson, 27, ran inside.

LaFleur backed the car around Heandez's patrol car, back onto Fairdale Lane and into a drainage ditch, detectives said. He put the vehicle in drive and in reverse to try to get out of the ditch, officials said.

Heandez once again told LaFleur to put his hands up, and an HPD patrol car then arrived at the scene, police said.

Police said LaFleur reached for his pistol and Heandez fired several shots at him.

LaFleur died at the scene, detectives said.

Stevenson was captured hiding in an attic inside a nearby townhouse, police said. Officials said there was a warrant for his arrest on a robbery charge filed in Arkansas.