According to a City of Denton press release, around 1:30 a.m. on January 29, police officers were dispatched to 1610 East McKinney Street after a man called Denton Public Safety Communications stating that he was having issues with a woman and wanted to kill himself. Denton Police Officers would find this to be a volatile hostage situation.
Officers arrived five minutes later and observed the man wielding a knife at a woman while his arm was gripping her neck.
De-escalation tactics were engaged; however, the man reportedly raised his arm in a stabbing motion over several instances.
As time transpired, officers allege it was apparent that the knife-wielding man would not release the woman.
One officer, a three-year veteran of the force, “fired one round from his patrol rifle” when “the suspect again raised the knife in a threatening manner toward the female,” according to the release.
The bullet hit the man in his upper torso and he fell to the ground with the knife still in his hand.
A taser was deployed to disarm the man of the knife.
He was transported to a local hospital and subsequently succumbed to his gunshot wound the morning of his arrival.
Details regarding the identity of the decedent will not be disclosed or confirmed until family members are duly notified.
The hostage is safe and no officers were injured during the incident.
Per policy, the Texas Rangers are investigating the “officer-involved shooting” while a concurrent administrative investigation is being managed by the Internal Affairs division of the Denton Police Department.
The officer who discharged his patrol rifle was placed on administrative leave as the investigation is pending.
