Mark Tyson
Member
Oct. 31, 2003, 12:06AM
HPD mum on officer's death
Accidental shooting suspected, sources say
By STEVE McVICKER and S.K. BARDWELL
Copyright 2003 Houston Chronicle
Faced with the grim task of investigating the death of one of their own, Houston Police Department officials Thursday refused to elaborate on the fatal shooting of Sgt. Larry Boyd Smith, a longtime member of the department's homicide division.
Officials only will say that Smith, 61, was alone in his cubicle in the homicide office on the sixth floor of HPD's downtown headquarters at 1200 Travis when he was shot at approximately 3:45 p.m. Wednesday. He was rushed by ambulance to Ben Taub Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
At the hospital, acting Police Chief Joe Breshears praised Smith as a top-notch murder investigator. However, he and other department officials have refused to say whether Smith's fatal wound was self-inflicted or if the shooting was accidental.
One day after the shooting, emotions continued to run high at police headquarters, especially in the homicide division where some of the detectives who worked with Smith now must investigate his death.
Despite the dearth of information coming from HPD officials, several police sources familiar with the direction of the investigation, but who did not want to be identified, said that detectives seem to believe Smith shot himself accidentally with his own pistol.
Another accidental discharge, in which no one was injured, happened only days before in the homicide division, officers said.
That discharge, involving a Glock, occurred when an investigator hung his holstered gun up in a restroom stall, and it discharged repeatedly.
Smith's service weapon was a .45-caliber Colt Model 1911, a reproduction of a World War I U.S. military sidearm, a model that HPD officers have had problems with before.
In February 1992, HPD Mounted Division officer Franklin Paul shot his horse when the sleeve of his thick jacket brushed against his cocked .45-automatic pistol, causing the gun to fire accidentally. The horse survived.
Former Houston officer J.W. Clampitte was carrying the same kind of weapon in 1977 when he accidentally released the safety by sliding into the front seat of his car. The gun discharged, sending a bullet through Clampitte's left foot.
Several homicide officers Thursday denied television reports that Smith had been involved in an argument with another officer before the shooting. One investigator who did not want his name used said that during a discussion of impending retirements prior to the shooting, Smith said he would remain on the job another four years because one of his children had just started college.
Another investigator who did not want his name used said Smith spoke with someone at the Harris County district attorney's office on the phone immediately before the shooting and, after hanging up, opened his desk drawer to retrieve his weapon.
Official word on the death from the HPD public information office Thursday was that it remains under investigation and that a ruling on the cause of death is awaited from the Harris County medical examiner's office.
HPD mum on officer's death
Accidental shooting suspected, sources say
By STEVE McVICKER and S.K. BARDWELL
Copyright 2003 Houston Chronicle
Faced with the grim task of investigating the death of one of their own, Houston Police Department officials Thursday refused to elaborate on the fatal shooting of Sgt. Larry Boyd Smith, a longtime member of the department's homicide division.
Officials only will say that Smith, 61, was alone in his cubicle in the homicide office on the sixth floor of HPD's downtown headquarters at 1200 Travis when he was shot at approximately 3:45 p.m. Wednesday. He was rushed by ambulance to Ben Taub Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
At the hospital, acting Police Chief Joe Breshears praised Smith as a top-notch murder investigator. However, he and other department officials have refused to say whether Smith's fatal wound was self-inflicted or if the shooting was accidental.
One day after the shooting, emotions continued to run high at police headquarters, especially in the homicide division where some of the detectives who worked with Smith now must investigate his death.
Despite the dearth of information coming from HPD officials, several police sources familiar with the direction of the investigation, but who did not want to be identified, said that detectives seem to believe Smith shot himself accidentally with his own pistol.
Another accidental discharge, in which no one was injured, happened only days before in the homicide division, officers said.
That discharge, involving a Glock, occurred when an investigator hung his holstered gun up in a restroom stall, and it discharged repeatedly.
Smith's service weapon was a .45-caliber Colt Model 1911, a reproduction of a World War I U.S. military sidearm, a model that HPD officers have had problems with before.
In February 1992, HPD Mounted Division officer Franklin Paul shot his horse when the sleeve of his thick jacket brushed against his cocked .45-automatic pistol, causing the gun to fire accidentally. The horse survived.
Former Houston officer J.W. Clampitte was carrying the same kind of weapon in 1977 when he accidentally released the safety by sliding into the front seat of his car. The gun discharged, sending a bullet through Clampitte's left foot.
Several homicide officers Thursday denied television reports that Smith had been involved in an argument with another officer before the shooting. One investigator who did not want his name used said that during a discussion of impending retirements prior to the shooting, Smith said he would remain on the job another four years because one of his children had just started college.
Another investigator who did not want his name used said Smith spoke with someone at the Harris County district attorney's office on the phone immediately before the shooting and, after hanging up, opened his desk drawer to retrieve his weapon.
Official word on the death from the HPD public information office Thursday was that it remains under investigation and that a ruling on the cause of death is awaited from the Harris County medical examiner's office.
