Deputy shoots, kills knife-wielding man

Ex-girlfriend with protective order was being followed

A sheriff’s deputy said he shot and killed a man who came at him with a butcher knife Tuesday evening after a short foot chase in north Harris County.

The man, identified by relatives as Jeray Chatham, 30, was pronounced dead at the scene about 7:30 p.m. inside an apartment complex along Blue Bell Road near Veterans Memorial.

“He didn’t deserve this, said Ray Chatham, who said he is the dead man’s father.

Sheriff’s officials said the incident began when the man’s ex-girlfriend called police to say she was being followed by him. Authorities confirmed there was a protective order filed against him.

The woman waited for deputies in the parking lot of the nearby Blue Bell Corner Store, 9702 Veterans Memorial. Sheriff ’s officials said her ex was there when the deputies pulled up.

The man identified as Chatham then drove away. The deputy followed him through the neighborhood until he returned to the store. Sheriff ’s officials said he was holding a butcher knife when he got out of the car.

The deputy chased after him with both men running toward the nearby apartment complex. When he wouldn’t drop the knife, the deputy fired a Taser at him.

“The Taser was ineffective,” said Harris County Sheriff ’s Sgt. Cedrick Collier.

The man ran toward a patio of an apartment inside the complex, briefly eluding the deputy. He then stripped down to his underwear.

“He waited for the deputy to turn the corner. He lunged at the deputy with the knife,” Collier said.

The deputy fired twice at the man. He fell to the ground and was pronounced dead.

Sheriff’s officials said they have spoken to witnesses who corroborated the deputy’s account of what happened at the scene.

Sheriff’s officials said they don’t know why the man took off his clothes.

Ray Chatham said he last spoke to his son Monday evening.

“He was getting along good with his life. I don’t know what happened,” the father said.