Keith Lowery Townsend

CUSTODIAL DEATH REPORT Agency Information ORIGINAL CDR Number: 17-663-C Version Type: VERSION 12/14/2017 2:51 Report Date: Status: Submitted PM Agency/Facility Information Houston Police 1200 Travis, 16th Agency Name: Agency Address: Dept. Floor Agency City: Houston Agency State: TX Agency Zip: 77002 Director Information Director Salutation: Chief Director First Name: Art Director Middle Name: Director Last Name: Acevedo Reporter Name: Kimberly Fowler Reporter Email: [email protected] Decedent Information Custodial Death Report :: Page 1 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- Identity of Deceased First Name: Keith Middle Name: Lowery Last Name: Townsend Suffix: Date of Birth: 10/6/1970 Sex: Male Race: Anglo or White Age At Time Of Death: 47 Date/Time of Custody (arrest, incarceration) (mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm AM/PM): Date/Time of Custody or 12/4/2017 8:20 PM Incident: Date/Time of Death (mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm AM/PM): Death Date and Time: 12/5/2017 3:30 AM Manner / Cause of Death Has a medical examiner or coroner conducted an evaluation to determine a cause of death? Medical Examiner/Coroner Yes, results are Evaluation?: available What was the manner of death? (select only one) Manner of Death: Suicide Custodial Death Report :: Page 2 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- Medical Cause of Death: Medical Cause of Death: Suicide-Gunshot wound of the head Had the decedent been receiving treatment for the medical condition that caused the death after admission to your jail's jurisdiction? Medical Treatment: No If death was an accident, homicide or suicide, who caused the death? Who caused the death?: Decedent If a weapon caused the death, what type of weapon caused the death? (Hold CTRL to select all that apply) Type of weapon that caused Handgun death?: Was the cause of death the result of a pre-existing medical condition or did the decedent develop the condition after admission? Not Applicable; cause of death was Pre existing medical accidental injury, condition?: intoxication, suicide or homicide If death was an accident, homicide or suicide, what was the means of death? Means of Death: Firearm Location / Custody Information Custodial Death Report :: Page 3 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- Where did the event causing the death occur? 1205 East 33rd Street Address: City: Houston Street County: Harris Zip: 77002 What location category best describes where the event causing the death occurred? Location Category: Other, specify Other Location Category: Vacant Lot What type of custody/facility was the Decedent in at the time of death: Police Custody Type of Custody: (pre-booking) Specific type of custody/facility: Specific Type of Custody/Facility: Custody of Law Enforcement Personnel during/fleeing arrest What was the time and date of the deceased's entry into the law enforcement facility where the death occurred (mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm AM/PM): Entry Date Time: Entry Date Time N/A: Where did the death occur? Death Location: Scene of incident General Information Custodial Death Report :: Page 4 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- Did any other law enforcement agencies respond to calls for service related to this incident? Other Agencies Respond?: No What were the most serious offense(s) with which the deceased was (or would have been) charged with at the time of death? Offense 1: Possession of narcotics Offense 2: Aggravated Kidnapping Offense 3: Aggravated Assault on a Peace Officer Not filed at time of Were the Charges:: death What were the types of charges or reason for contact? (Hold CTRL to select all that apply) Type of Offense: Other, specify Type of Offense, Other: Decedent driving a stolen vehicle At any time during the incident and/or entry into the law enforcement facility, did the decedent display or use a weapon? Decedent display/use of Yes, mark all that weapons: apply Displayed firearm Decedent Display or Use without discharge; Weapon Details: Discharged firearm At any time during the incident and/or entry into the law enforcement facility, did the decedent: Custodial Death Report :: Page 5 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- Yes (select all that Attempt to Injure Others?: apply) Attempted to injure Ways Decedent Attempted To law enforcement Injure Others: personnel At any time during the incident and/or entry into the law enforcement facility, did the decedent: Appear intoxicated (alcohol or Yes Make suicidal statements?: Yes drugs): Exhibit any mental health Unknown Exhibit any medical problems?: Unknown problems?: At any time during the incident and/or entry into the law enforcement facility, did the decedent: Barricade self or initiate Resist being handcuffed or Yes Unknown standoff?: arrested?: Physically attempt/assault Gain possession of officer's Yes No officer(s): weapon: Verbally threaten other(s) Escape or attempt to Yes Yes including law: escape/flee custody: Attempt gain possession No officer's weapon: Was the deceased under restraint in the time leading up to the death or the events causing the death? Under Restraint: No Summary of Incident Summary of How the Death Occurred: (max. 30,000 characters) Summary: A Harris County Pct. 1 Deputy engaged in vehicular pursuit with stolen U-Haul van, and Houston Police Department (HPD) officers subsequently join the pursuit. The van became disabled with a flat tire at Omega and 33rd in north Houston. The suspect exited the stolen van with a female hostage and threatened to kill her. While fleeing with the female, the suspect discharged a pistol in the direction of HPD Officers. The Custodial Death Report :: Page 6 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- suspect barricaded himself and female, the suspect discharged a pistol in the direction of HPD Officers. The suspect barricaded himself and female inside another vehicle in the backyard of a nearby residence. HPD SWAT and Hostage Negotiation Team (HNT) were called to the scene and a several-hour standoff ensued. HNT ultimately convinced the suspect to release the female hostage. After the suspect refused to give himself up, SWAT deployed CS gas and a singe gunshot was heard coming from inside the vehicle. The suspect was found deceased from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, ultimately confirmed by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences ( Medical Examiner's Office) Custodial Death Report :: Page 7 of 7