Body Camera Footage is Released Showing an Alleged Fatal Police-Involved Shooting from February 19, 2018
On Friday, May 11, 2018, the Denton Police Department released body camera footage of an alleged fatal police shooting that occurred on February 19, 2018. Lawrence Shaw, age 45, is seen on the video swinging a knife within 5 to 10 feet of a police officer. The police officer who allegedly fired two deadly shots first deployed his electronic weapon twice, after which Shaw can be seen continuing to come toward him, swinging a knife in a highly threatening manner. Earlier in May, a grand jury with Denton County declined to press charges against the Denton police officer who allegedly fired his weapon at Shaw.
The incident on the day of the shooting started at about 3 p.m. A seven-year veteran of Denton Police Department and a police trainee were sitting in their marked patrol car in the 1500 block of Spencer Road. They were filling out a report on the previous call. Shaw suddenly approached the rear of their vehicle and started shouting at the police officers. When they got out of the cruiser, Shaw allegedly pulled a knife and threatened the officers before heading toward a wooded area nearby.
The officers were concerned that the knife-wielding suspect might hurt someone. They followed him, which the body camera footage shows. After Shaw briefly disappears into the wooded area, he suddenly reappears, and he erratically swings the knife toward the police officer wearing the camera.
The footage shows the police officer deploying his electronic weapon, which disables Shaw for a few moments. The suspect then got up swinging his knife, advancing toward the officer. The second deployment of his electronic weapon failed to disable Shaw, at which time the police officer used his handgun and fired two rounds. Paramedics were called, but Shaw died at the scene.
Both officers at the scene were placed on administrative leave. The trainee returned to field training eventually. Following an investigation of the alleged police-involved fatal shooting done by the Texas Rangers, the police department veteran returned to patrol officer duties.
As with every post on this website, we are only providing information in this post and do not make any allegation or assertion that anyone acted inappropriately or engaged in misconduct.
–Guest Contributor
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