By Joanna Putman
Police1
FORT WORTH, Texas — Fort Worth police have released body camera footage of an officer-involved shooting of a man who opened fire at officers, KDFW reported.
The May 19 incident began when a police alert flagged a car connected to a shooting from the previous day, according to the report. The released footage includes security video of that shooting, which shows the suspect approaching and speaking with a person who is obscured from the camera.
After speaking with the person briefly, the suspect can be seen pulling a handgun from his belt and firing a shot at the person. The suspect then walked back to his car and drove away from the scene.
Click below to see full video.
Officer body camera from the next day shows an officer following the vehicle. The suspect pulled over and initially raised his hands as if to surrender. He then opened fire on the officer.
The officer returned fire while being hit by flying debris and glass shards. The suspect got back into his vehicle and fled.
The officer pursued the suspect through a neighborhood and near a park. During a press conference, Assistant Chief Robert Alldredge noted the officer’s bravery in continuing the pursuit despite the uncertain condition of his injuries.
Video shows the officer’s patrol vehicle sustaining damage after hitting a speed bump during the pursuit. The officer continued to pursue the suspect as fast as the cruiser could manage while updating other officers on the suspect’s location.
After the cruiser comes to a stop, video shows other officers arriving on the scene and tending to his injuries, which were caused by broken glass. The officer was not shot, according to the report.
Later that day, police located the suspect at a house in Arlington, according to the report. He had sustained a gunshot wound to the back. Video shows officers establishing a perimeter and taking the suspect into custody within minutes.
The suspect faces charges of aggravated assault against a public servant for the shootout with the officer and aggravated assault for the prior day’s shooting.
Alldredge emphasized the unexpected nature of the incident and praised the officer’s training and response under pressure.
