An undercover Houston police officer shot and killed a man Wednesday that he said tried to carjack him during a surveillance operation at a northwest-side apartment complex.

Officer Arnoldo Chapa fired “multiple times” shortly before 4 p.m. at a man identified by family members as Adam Garza in the parking lot of the Sherwood Lane Apartments, 4506 Sherwood Lane, HPD officials said.

Chapa was sitting in the driver’s seat of the unmarked police car when Garza suddenly walked up and opened the front passenger door. He pointed a semi-automatic pistol at the officer but said nothing, HPD officials said.

“That’s when (Chapa) fires several times,” said HPD spokesman John Cannon. “The officer is lucky to be alive.”

Garza, 19, was pronounced dead at the scene. Police recovered a semi-automatic pistol they believe Garza used. “We’re very fortunate that the suspect didn’t come in and just start to fire,” Cannon said.

The HPD surveillance operation at the apartment complex was initiated because of a high-level of crime there, officials said.

Chapa was not injured. He joined the Houston Police Department in 1992.

Several people who said they were related to Garza denounced the shooting.

Cynthia Rodriguez denied that her son would carjack anyone. “I have a car. If he wants a car he can borrow mine,” she said. “I want justice. I want to know why they shot him seven times.”

Other relatives acknowledged Garza had a checkered past but said it was for “nickel and dime stuff.”