Here’s what HPD says about it

HOUSTON – On Wednesday, the Houston Police Department released body camera footage of an incident in February in which a man said to be in a “mental crisis” stabbed two officers and was then fatally stabbed by an officer.

Shooting happened in the 13300 block of Agarita Lane around 9 am on Saturday, February 18.

The identity of the male suspect, aged 26, is to be notified to family members by the Harris County Forensic Institute. However, in the video released by HPD, there is a man claiming to be a brother, who is named John Le.

The stabbing took place inside the house, but the incident is not visible on the video, as it happened inside the house. The Houston police footage notes, “Law enforcement may not release any portion of a body-worn camera recording taken in a private space without the written permission of the person who is the subject of that portion of the recording, (quote) See Texas Occupation Code.” 1701.661 (f). In accordance with Texas law, HPD has not released any portion of the body-camera footage filmed in a private space during this critical incident.”

The video released by HPD essentially omits the shooting and stabbing footage of the body due to this quote. It is not clear if HPD requested written permission in this case, but KPRC 2 contacted HPD to find out if this permission request was made in this case.

The video review below shows the officer entering the house with the woman, and then cuts to footage from the officer’s body camera, in which the officer says he was stabbed and what appears to be blood on his clothes and hands. An officer is shown giving himself first aid while another officer helps him. Another officer is shown holding a towel to his face.

Houston police said Senior Police Officer C. Nguyen, 41, and Officer C. Eco, 33, were stabbed and taken to Hermann Memorial Hospital – Texas Medical Center. Nguyen and Eko were taken to the hospital where they were treated and released.

Nguyen was sworn in as an officer in August 2008 and assigned to the West Side Patrol Unit. Eco, who shot the suspect with his service weapon, is assigned to the Northeast Patrol Unit. He was sworn in as an officer in May 2019.

HPD said officers responded to a Social Security check that said the man was in a “mental crisis.” according to initial report. The HPD reported that the officers found the man and tried to defuse the situation, but when the officers tried to apprehend him, he took out a knife and stabbed Nguyen and Eko.

“Eko, fearful of this safety and that of his fellow officers, discharged his service weapon, hitting the suspect,” This is reported by HPD in its press release..

Doctors pronounced the man dead on the spot.

HPD stated that, as is common in shooting incidents involving HPD officers within city limits of Houston, the case is being investigated by HPD’s Special Investigations Division, the Internal Affairs Division and the Harris County District Attorney’s Office.

This is the final video released by HPD. Below the summary video are individual videos showing all released videos available through HPD’s YouTube account.