Dallas police say suspect in Feb. 8 officer-involved shooting later died; officers placed on administrative leave

Executive Assistant Chief Monique Alex said at a Feb. 8 press briefing that officers responded to a 911 call at about 7:27 p.m. reporting a possible self-harm risk at a residence in the 5100 block of Lemont Avenue. Alex said the first officers arrived about 7:39 p.m., saw the man holding a knife when the door opened, and that he briefly closed the door before later charging officers.

Alex said officers gave loud verbal commands for the man to drop the knife before firing their weapons. "He wanted to be shot," Alex said, describing statements the man made during the encounter. Alex said officers struck the man multiple times, tased him so they could handcuff him and render aid, and that Dallas Fire Rescue transported him to a hospital, where he later died. No officers were injured, Alex said.

Deputy Chief William Griffith, commander of the Criminal Investigations Group, told reporters the call had been dispatched as a CIT (mental-health) call with ambulance support and explained RightCare's role. "RightCare's responsibility is a support role once the area or the situation has been deemed safe," Griffith said. He added that because officers believed the situation was active and that a person inside the apartment faced imminent harm, they made entry and later could request clinician support when the scene was safe.

On investigative steps and evidence, Alex said body-worn camera footage was collected and that the Dallas County District Attorney's Office and police oversight responded to the scene "in accordance with department policy." She said all involved officers have been placed on administrative leave, which the department described as standard procedure following an officer-involved shooting.

Griffith summarized the department's preliminary assessment: "Based on the preliminary investigation right now, we believe the officers acted appropriately," he said. He also said the department's records show the man had one prior encounter with the department as a complainant in a stolen-vehicle report and that the department had not previously responded to a mental-health call for him, per the preliminary review.

The briefing included an audio excerpt from the scene; that audio contains a voice that sounds like a different name than the one identified earlier in the briefing. The department identified the 911 caller in its statement as James Thomas; the on-scene audio played at the briefing includes a voice that says a name that sounds like "James Dunn." The department has not provided a public reconciliation of those name references at the briefing.

When asked how many rounds were fired, Griffith said, "2 officers fired 4 rounds." The department said it will continue its investigation with the Dallas County District Attorney's Office and police oversight and did not announce any further administrative actions or criminal determinations during the briefing.

Assistant Chief Sam Sarmiento was present and was announced to give remarks in Spanish immediately after a planned video showing; those Spanish remarks were noted in the briefing plan but are not contained in the available transcript of English remarks. The department said it will provide further information as the investigation continues.