Tarrant County meeting spotlights Haltom City mental‑health warrant shooting; family and advocates demand body‑cam release

A Tarrant County Commissioners Court briefing on Feb. 19, 2025, opened a public discussion of an officer‑involved shooting that occurred Jan. 31 during the serving of a mental‑health warrant in Haltom City. The Tarrant County Sheriff's Office press release read into the record said deputies attempted to serve a mental‑health warrant on Christopher Loyo and that deputies discharged their firearms after Loyo assaulted a deputy with a knife (later described as a sword under 20 inches). The press release said the injured deputy was transported to a hospital and that the Texas Rangers were asked to lead the criminal investigation.

The issue drew extended exchange between commissioners and sheriff's office representatives, and a long public comment period in which family members, advocates and residents pressed the court and the sheriff for details, accountability and changes in how mental‑health warrants are handled. Reed Bills, who identified himself as Loyo’s brother, said family members were told deputies would take Loyo to a hospital for MHMR evaluation and complained that deputies forced entry, used a Taser and shot him shortly afterward.

Why it matters: speakers said the incident highlights broader questions about how Tarrant County serves people in crisis — specifically whether mental‑health professionals accompany warrant service teams, how deputies are trained to de‑escalate, and how and when body‑worn camera footage is released. Several speakers linked the incident to a pattern of deaths in county custody and demanded consistent policies and independent review.

What officials said - The court read the sheriff's office press release into the record: “On Friday, 01/31/2025, just before 2PM, Tarrant County mental health warrant deputies attempted to serve a mental health warrant on Christopher Loyo.... Deputies on scene discharged their firearms to stop Loyo, ultimately saving the life of the deputy.” This statement was read as a public record item by a county staff member relaying the press release from the Tarrant County Sheriff's Office. - A sheriff's office representative told the court that an operational plan had been devised by warrant deputies and that deputies have “different varying levels of training,” with some certified as mental‑health officers through state training; he said the office coordinates with MHMR and the judges who issue warrants but that MHMR staff do not routinely accompany every warrant service. - The representative also said the department had served 427 mental‑health warrants last year and that deputies involved in the Jan. 31 incident were placed on administrative leave while the Texas Rangers investigate.

Public comment and family statements - Reed Bills (identified as Loyo’s brother) told the court he had requested the warrant to get his brother help and said the family heard deputies “tase them twice back to back and then shot them right immediately after.” He asked why deputies did not attempt dialogue and why the sheriff was not present in court to answer questions. - Katie Starnes, and other community speakers, urged courts and law enforcement to use crisis‑response teams that include mental‑health professionals, citing practices in Fort Worth and Grand Prairie that pair MHMR liaisons with officers. Multiple callers asked whether the county could contract for MHMR ride‑alongs or modify existing contracts so mental‑health professionals could accompany deputies. - Speakers repeatedly demanded release of body‑worn camera footage to the family and public. Several described delays or lack of communication to families and asked the court to adopt a consistent policy on when footage is released and how families can view it.

Court response and next steps - Commissioner Alisa Simmons pressed sheriff's staff for details about operational planning and MHMR coordination and asked for data on how many warrants de‑escalated peacefully; the sheriff’s representative said those statistics were not immediately available but could be provided. - County leadership said they would seek more information about how other jurisdictions use MHMR liaisons on calls and requested staff follow‑up on training, policies for body‑cam release and whether the county can make MHMR staff available to accompany deputies.

Context and related details - The Tarrant County Sheriff's Office requested the Texas Rangers take the lead in the criminal investigation into the Jan. 31 incident; the press release instructs the public to request additional case information from the Texas Department of Public Safety. - Family members and advocates tied the Haltom City shooting to broader concerns about deaths in county custody and past incidents raised at the court: speakers repeatedly invoked the Sandra Bland Act and national debates about body cameras and mental‑health response teams.

Ending: The court accepted public comment, asked staff to gather comparative practices and statistics on MHMR participation and training, and recessed for additional business. The Texas Rangers investigation and any subsequent criminal or administrative findings remained pending at the time of the meeting.