HOUSTON -- A high-speed chase, which at times reached up to 122-miles an hour, began in southwest Harris County and ended in a fatal shooting near the Galleria Tuesday.

It began as a patrol officer was checking up on Roland Carnaby's claim that he worked with the CIA. It ended nearly an hour later when the 52-year-old pulled over, but would not get out of his vehicle.

An officer smashed the passenger window with a nightstick, and that’s when police say Carnaby exited, turned slightly and reached under his seat. 

Police said they saw something shiny in his hand and opened fire.  

Baffled friends said Carnaby had been on the other side of chases.

“He did say at some point in time (he was the one) doing the chasing,” said one of Carnaby’s neighbors in Pearland, who asked not to be identified.

Family provided photo

Roland Carnaby, left, is shown in this undated photo with Houston Police Chief Harold Hurtt taken at a HPD Policeman's Ball.

But Carnaby said he wasn't chasing people in Houston -- he was chasing the most wanted terrorist in the world.

“(In) Afghanistan, had a chance to take out Osama bin Laden (but the) Secretary of Defense put a stop on it during Bill Clinton administration,” the neighbor told 11 News.

Others Carnaby knew repeated similar wild stories that seem impossible.

Yet on Tuesday night, his wife shared some photos of her husband, including one taken at CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia.

It was taken in the lobby area of the nation’s intelligence agency and is clearly before the security check points, which can be seen behind him.

She told 11 News he was active duty.

Another photo shows Carnaby with Houston Police Chief Harold Hurtt.

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The officer near the black vehicle appeared to shoot the suspect before diving back in front of the Jeep.

11 News confirmed Carnaby was the president of the Houston chapter of Association of Intelligence Officers.

It is a nationwide organization of 4,500 members, mostly retired CIA employees.

Longtime friend and auto dealer Alan Helfman sold Carnaby the new Jeep he was driving Tuesday as police gave chase.

"He's here every day. We'll eat chocolate together, get a smoothie together. We'll talk about law enforcement that's what he talked about most," Helfman said. "He was a really proud individual. I used to introduce him to police officers in the dealership.”

But Helfman, too, was at a loss for why his friend would run from the law.

"I think he made a terrible error in judgment for running from police,” said Helfman.

Sources told 11 News that Carnaby was close to many local law officers and may have been trying to contact a friend at the FBI during the chase to vouch for him with police.

Family provided photo

Roland Carnaby claims that he work with the CIA.

11 News contacted the CIA, and the agency said Carnaby was not an employee.

Police did recover two handguns and a shotgun from Carnaby’s vehicle following the chase Tuesday. But they also confirmed that Carnaby had a concealed handgun license.

Carnaby's brother-in-law said HPD has been by their house asking if he was under any unusual stress that might cause him to react unexpectedly in a situation.

So far, no one can explain why Carnaby fled.

What is clear is that a lot of people -- from family and friends to law officers and businessmen -- did believe his story.