Category: Fort Worth Police Department|Police Shooting

An officer-involved shooting occurred in Fort Worth, Texas, on Saturday night, September 30, 2017. According to law enforcement authorities, a man suspected of being a drug dealer was stopped by an officer for questioning. The suspect refused to cooperate, and the police officer tried to stop him using a Taser, but the effort was unsuccessful. The man got into his vehicle, continuing to ignore commands to stop. The suspect put the car in reverse and allegedly almost struck the police officer. At that point, the officer allegedly shot several times at the suspect. The suspect was hit in the torso with the gunfire, authorities say, and drove a short distance before crashing into another vehicle. He was then arrested and first taken to a nearby hospital.

Officers who allegedly fire their weapons in police shootings are always placed on some type of administrative duty or on leave while the related incidents are being investigated. Public outcry related to many shootings across the country claim that officers use excessive force. This is part of the reason there is now widespread use of body cameras worn on uniforms.

An example of an alleged police shooting that resulted in tremendous controversy was the alleged shooting of Jordan Edwards in Balch Springs, Texas. A police officer allegedly shot into a car full of teens, leaving Edwards dead. The officer was at the scene of a party, investigating reports of underage drinking, when Edwards left the scene as a passenger in a car. Body camera footage of the incident allegedly led to the officer being fired.

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

On Saturday,  August 26, 2017, officers with the Fort Worth Police Department responded to a domestic disturbance call on East Shaw Street at around 9:15 pm. According to police officers, when they arrived at the address, the man was involved in an argument in the backyard. Then the man went into his home and allegedly exited with a gun. Police officers say that they repeatedly instructed the man to drop his gun. After he refused, police officers allegedly opened fire. The man was allegedly shot in his lower torso by the police. Before he was transported to a nearby hospital, he was alert and speaking.

According to the police, on two occasions earlier that same day, they had been called to the same address where the shooting occurred. The man faces pending charges, and the police officers involved in the alleged shooting are being placed on administrative leave during the time that an internal investigation is being conducted.

Incidents in which police officers shoot individuals are investigated in order to assure that no one’s rights have been violated. The use of dashcam videos and body cameras are helpful tools that often provide greater insight into situations that involve gunfire.

A seemingly growing trend in the U.S. is that police officers are held more accountable for their actions than ever before. Traditionally, that grand juries clear officers even in fatal shootings is almost a given. Growing public demands for justice and accountability will hopefully put a halt to instances of excessive force being used by officers. There are numerous civil groups dedicated to this purpose.

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