The Mesquite Police Department has released video footage of the officer-involved fatal shooting of a 16-year-old boy that occurred earlier this month.
On August 11, a Mesquite officer attempted to make a traffic stop on Scyene Road, but the teen driving the silver Honda Pilot failed to stop and instead fled, the video shows.
The officer initiated pursuit of the suspect vehicle, which was reportedly traveling at times at high speeds, up to 100 mph. Along the way, the teen driver allegedly struck two vehicles and a street sign before finally stopping in a yard in the 1700 block of Carnation Drive.
The driver quickly exited the Honda, and the officer stepped out of the police vehicle, ordering the suspect to “Stop!” and “Get on the ground!”
The teen reached into the front seat of the SUV, then unlocked the back door and reached into the back seat, ignoring the officer’s commands. In the video, the officer can be heard yelling “Stop!” nine times.
As the teen reached into the back seat, the 14-year police veteran fired at the suspect. According to the police narrative on the video, the police officer believed the suspect was reaching for a gun inside the vehicle and feared for his own life.
A .45 caliber Taurus handgun was allegedly later retrieved from the suspect’s vehicle, police spokesman Aaron Paredes said in the video.
When backup officers arrived, they attempted life-saving measures on the wounded suspect, but he was later pronounced dead at a local hospital.
Police have not released the suspect’s name because he is a juvenile, Paredes said in the video. The name of the officer involved has not been released because of the ongoing internal affairs investigation into the shooting incident.
In nearby Dallas, there have been 159 homicides as of August 20, according to recent police data. This is a 5% increase from the same period last year.
Dallas Police Department’s struggle against crime is exacerbated by an ongoing shortage of police officers. A previous City analysis suggests that a city the size of Dallas should have about 4,000 officers, but the department currently employs about 3,100.
Neighboring Fort Worth has successfully reduced violent crime and motor vehicle thefts by implementing a dedicated downtown police force and utilizing private security.
“With this many eyes and ears on the street, people who are up to no good feel very uncomfortable,” said Andy Taft, who runs Downtown Fort Worth Inc.