News

UPDATE: Sheriff Locates Murder Suspect

By Montgomery County Sheriff's Office | July 23, 2020

UPDATE 7/23/20 6:50 p.m.: SWAT Standoff Ends with Murder Suspect Dead of Self Inflicted Wound

On July 23, 2020 at 2:06 p.m. MCTXSheriff Detectives and SWAT team located Christopher Julian at a residence in the 15200 block of Vincennes Oak Street. Julian fire several shots as deputies approached, and he fled into the home. A SWAT standoff ensued as Harris County Sheriff’s Office deputies and SWAT team, as well as Harris County Constable Pct. 4 arrived on scene to assist. Julian remained in the home for several hours, and made attempts to start fires inside as deputies tried to deescalate the scene and bring Julian out of the home safety.

After several hours of a tense standoff with the Crisis Negotiations Team working to resolve the situation peacefully, SWAT made entry into the home and found the suspect, Christopher Julian, dead from an apparent self-inflicted wound. Harris County Sheriff’s Office will be leading an investigation into the shooting and following standoff.

Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office’s thoughts and prayers go out to the families involved in this terrible situation.

UPDATE 7/23/20 at 3 p.m.: MCTXSheriff SWAT and HCSOTexas SWAT teams are on location with the suspect at this time. Shots have been fired in the 15200 block of Vincennes Oak in Cypress. PIOs are in route to the media staging point at the corner of Grant and Shaw.

On July 22, 2020, at about 11:15 pm, Deputies with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to the 33000 block of Kinley Ann Court, Magnolia, Texas in reference to a shooting. When Deputies arrived they found the victim, 27-year-old Samuel Schmitt in the front entryway of the residence.

Schmitt had multiple gunshot wounds to his body and responding personnel attempted life-saving measures, but unfortunately, Mr. Schmitt succumbed to the wounds. During the investigation, Deputies learned from witnesses that the suspect Christopher Julian (W/M) 27 years old is an acquaintance of many years to Mr. Schmitt and came to the residence about 10:00 pm. Witnesses advised that while Julian and Schmitt were talking, and for unknown reasons, Julian went outside and came back inside the residence and immediately started shooting Schmitt. Julian then fled the residence in a silver 2012 Nissan Versa 4-door car. During the investigation, Deputies learned that on July 21, 2020, Julian was involved in another shooting incident in Tomball, Texas. During that incident, Julian allegedly fired multiple gunshots at his girlfriend and the vehicle she was in. Based on the investigation completed by the Tomball Police Department a warrant for Aggravated Assault was issued for Julian.

Julian is a white male, 5’4” 150 pounds with brown hair and hazel colored eyes. Julian was last seen wearing a tie-dyed shirt, white shorts, and a dark-colored baseball cap with a white cross on the front and on the side. Julian is considered armed and dangerous. If you have any information on the whereabouts of Christopher Julian contact your local law enforcement or the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office at 936-760-5800 and refer to case# 20A231805.

Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office with the assistance of the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office are investigating the murder and will be filing murder charges soon.

Source: Lieutenant Scott Spencer, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, Administrative Services