A male suspect is dead following a fatal early morning shooting in DeSoto involving a police officer.
Police were first called to the 1100 block of Greenbriar Drive shortly after 4:00 a.m. Sunday morning after the unidentified armed suspect, a Latino man carrying a small child and accompanied by two women, began knocking on random residential doors and trespassing in their front and back yards.
When police arrived, they encountered the male suspect armed with a handgun and holding a small child. The man threatened to shoot any police officer he encountered. Officers attempted to talk to the man and deescalate the situation, but the group fled into a creek behind the houses, where police temporarily lost visual contact. Police formed a security perimeter and met the group approximately 30 minutes later in the 1200 block of Springbrook Drive. They continued to talk to the man holding the handgun and attempted to get him to drop his weapon and let go of the small child, but he remained uncooperative.
Fearing for her safety and that of the child, an officer armed with a rifle fired at and struck the suspect. The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene by DeSoto medical personnel.
Police are still working to identify the deceased man. The two women who accompanied the suspect were taken in for questioning but were unable to help police identify the suspect. The child was handed over to family members.
The officer involved in the shooting has been placed on paid administrative leave, as per department policy. The Grand Prairie Police Department is the outside agency investigating the officer-involved portion of the shooting. The Dallas County District Attorney's Office Public Integrity Unit was also notified and responded to the scene. Involvement of both agencies is routine following an officer-involved shooting and is intended to ensure an objective outside investigation.
