Teen suspect kills self in front of Houston-area official

KATY, Texas (AP) -- A 17-year-old killed himself in a Houston-area sheriff's office parking lot early Sunday after his mother drove him there to surrender for a fatal shooting of a 25-year-old man, authorities said Sunday.

Harris County sheriff's Sgt. Cedrick Collier said the shooting happened in front of the teenager's mother and a sheriff's sergeant. Collier said the sergeant was leaving the building just after 5 a.m. when he noticed a car parked with its headlights on and approached to see if the people inside needed help.

Collier said the woman told the sergeant that she was there to turn her son in for the shooting that happened earlier in the morning in Katy.

"His mom got out of the vehicle and stated that her son shot someone earlier that day and that he was a person of interest," Collier said.

He said the sergeant drew his weapon and asked the teen if it was true. Collier said the teen responded "yes," stepped behind the vehicle, pulled a gun and shot himself in the head. The teen was taken to a hospital, where he died.

The teen and the 25-year-old "happened to be dating or seeing the same person," Collier said.

He said the mother talked to investigators after her son killed himself.

"She's obviously destroyed because she just witnessed her son commit suicide in front of her," he said.

The name of the teen and others involved have not been released.

Collier said the sergeant did not fire his weapon, but was placed on administrative leave so he can "clear his head and make sure he's OK" before returning to work.

He said it's not known yet if the weapon used to kill the 25-year-old was the same one the teen used on himself.