DeSoto Police, along with other agencies, are investigating a fatal officer-involved shooting that occurred early Sunday morning, resulting in the death of an unidentified male suspect.
The incident began around 4:00 AM when police were called to the 1100 block of Greenbriar Drive in DeSoto after reports of a Hispanic male suspect knocking on the doors of various homes.
The man was armed and accompanied by two women and a small child while knocking on the doors of multiple homes and trespassing through residential yards according to police.
When officers arrived at the scene the suspect was holding a handgun and the small child police said.
According to police reports, the man threatened to shoot any officer who approached him.
Officers attempted to de-escalate the situation and engage in dialogue with the suspect, but he fled with the group into a nearby creek, temporarily evading law enforcement.
Approximately 30 minutes later, police located the group in the 1200 block of Springbrook Drive.
Officers continued to try to persuade the suspect to drop his weapon and release the child, however, despite these attempts, the man remained uncooperative, with the gun still in his hand.
Fearing for the safety of the officers and the child, an officer armed with a rifle fired at the suspect, striking and killing him.
He was pronounced dead at the scene by medical personnel from DeSoto.
The child’s family members have since taken custody of the child.
The identity of the suspect has not yet been determined, and the two women who were with him were taken in for questioning but were unable to provide police with his identity.
The officer involved in the shooting has been placed on paid administrative leave.
The Grand Prairie Police Department is conducting an independent investigation into the incident, alongside the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office’s Public Integrity Unit.
The investigation is ongoing, and no further details have been released at this time.