Armed Man Shot/Killed By Deputy
Early Sunday (3/27/16) evening, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to a residence in the 14600 block of Ashland Drive, in Splendora. Upon arriving at the location, deputies discovered that a male armed with a handgun had proceeded into a shed, approximately 50 yards from the residence at the dispatched location. It was reported that the male was threatening to take his own life. Deputies set up a perimeter around the location and removed three subjects that were inside of the residence. One of the subjects that were removed from the residence, and knew the male, advised that prior to the deputies’ arrival at the location, she heard a gunshot come from the shed where the male with the gun was located.
While deputies were positioning themselves around the shed to attempt to make contact with the male inside, the male subject inside the shed swung open the door, exited the shed, and proceeded toward the deputies with a handgun in his right hand. Deputies gave orders to the male to drop the weapon and get down on the ground, which the male ignored. The male continued to proceed toward the deputies and then quickly raised the gun, pointing it at the deputies. One of the deputies discharged their drawn weapon at the male, striking him. The male then dropped to the ground and tossed the handgun. Upon neutralizing the threat, deputies attempted life saving measures until Emergency Medical Services arrived. Emergency Medical Services transported the male to a local hospital where the male was later pronounced deceased.
The deceased male was identified as Earl Ashby, (date of birth 01/09/1983).
Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Units, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigators, and representatives from the Texas Rangers and Montgomery County District Attorneys Office responded to the scene and are still investigating.
