Police said 65-year-old Dennis Lloyd Burton opened fire on officers before they returned fire in an Academy store parking lot.
HUMBLE, TX — Humble police have identified a 65-year-old man who died after exchanging gunfire with officers Wednesday outside an Academy Sports + Outdoors store, saying in an update Thursday that the man fired at officers before they returned fire.
Dennis Lloyd Burton was identified as the man killed in the Oct. 21 shooting, according to the Humble Police Department. Police said the encounter began after the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office notified Humble authorities at about 12:15 p.m. that a potential theft suspect was believed to be entering the city. Officers later located a vehicle matching the description in the parking lot of the Academy store at 9470 W. FM 1960.
Police said officers made contact with Burton in the parking lot and gunfire was exchanged. In its Thursday update, the department said Burton opened fire on the officers before they fired back. Burton suffered gunshot wounds and was taken to a hospital, where he died. Neither officer was injured.
The department identified the officers involved as Sgt. Gregory Martin, a 22-year veteran of Humble police, and Detective Timothy Rose, who has served with the department for 17 years. Authorities have not released details about the alleged theft that prompted the original notification from Montgomery County.
Initial reports released in the hours after the shooting provided fewer details about how the gunfire began. Police initially confirmed that officers had contacted the man and that shots were fired but said the investigation was still in its preliminary stages. The department later said Burton fired first, providing a more specific account of the encounter.
The shooting took place in a shopping center parking lot near FM 1960 and Townsen Boulevard. A large section of the parking lot was closed off while investigators processed the scene. Police said there had not been a pursuit before officers located the vehicle.
Authorities said both officers were equipped with body-worn cameras during the encounter. Investigators were also expected to review other available evidence from the scene as they work to establish a complete sequence of events. Police have not publicly released the body-camera recordings.
No other injuries were reported. Police have not released additional information about the circumstances of the alleged theft or other events before Burton arrived in Humble. The department also has not announced a final determination about the shooting.
The investigation remained underway Thursday. Additional findings, including evidence reviewed by investigators and any further administrative or legal review of the officers’ actions, had not been publicly announced.
Author note: Last updated October 22, 2026.