Richland Hills police announced that one of its officers shot and killed a man allegedly firing a semi-automatic rifle on Friday.
The incident happened in the 7000 block of Hardisty Street. Police said they had received a call regarding a man shooting a gun at about 3:15 p.m. on August 12. After a short search, they found him in the 7000 block of Boulevard 26, less than a mile from Hardisty. Responding officers confronted the man, who was reportedly holding a rifle.
The man allegedly raised the gun at officers, and two opened fire on him. He was hit and fell to the ground. Paramedics arrived shortly after and administered first aid to the man, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. Police did not say how many times he had been shot.
Police said no officers were injured in the incident, nor was any other person hurt.
At a recent press conference, police spokeswoman Sheena McEachran said officers believed the man had shot at them, and they had returned the fire. In a subsequent press conference, McEachran said it was unclear whether the man fired at the officers, but they shot at him because he allegedly raised the rifle he was carrying and pointed it at them.
Richland Hills Police Department said an investigation into the shooting is ongoing. The department, however, did not release the names of the officers involved in the shooting.
Texas Rangers will investigate the officer-involved shooting while neighboring law enforcement agencies will handle the criminal investigation.
Residents of the neighborhood where the incident happened said the man who was killed owned a house in the area, the Star-Telegram reported. They said he was living in a camper trailer in front of the home even though he had just completed renovations and an expansion to the house.
Neighbors said the man had recently begun behaving oddly, such as “wearing a ski mask anytime he was outside.”
On Friday afternoon, one area resident said he heard two gunshots on the street that afternoon. He claimed that when he looked through the window, he saw the man carrying a rifle and running after someone. After a while, the resident said he heard more gunshots from Boulevard 26.
The August 12 incident led to a heavy police presence that night, with residents advised to steer clear of the area. During the investigation, authorities closed off a one-block perimeter around the intersection of Glenview Drive and Boulevard 26.
Richland Hills Police are requesting the public’s help in this incident. Anyone with information is urged to contact Detective Goen at 817-427-7031 or email [email protected].