Suspect dies after using child as human shield during hostage situation in Fort Worth

FORT WORTH, Texas - A Fort Worth SWAT officer shot and killed a gunman who used a child as a shield during a hostage situation Thursday afternoon.

The standoff happened just before noon at an apartment complex in West Fort Worth off Broadmoor Drive.

A woman managed to call 911 and whispered that there was a person inside the apartment with a gun. She said there were at least three other people inside, including children.

When officers arrived, the man shot at them from a third-floor apartment

Police said officers wearing rifle-resistant body armor with helmets and shields went up to the third floor to confront the man. Again they said he fired, hitting an officer's shield.

"Suspect raised the weapon and began firing at the officers," Fort Worth Police Chief Ed Krause said. "At least one of those rounds struck the shield the officer was carrying. Because the suspect was using the child as a shield, officers could not return fire at that time, and they backed away."

SWAT officers were called to the scene, and officers evacuated nearby residents.

When the SWAT officers entered the apartment, police said the suspect was holding a gun close to the children.

At least one SWAT officer fired a shot at the suspect. He was taken to the hospital where he later died. No hostages or officers were hurt.

Bobbee Guerrero had just returned home to the apartment complex with her daughter.

"I just went up the stairs with my daughter trying to go to my apartment," she recalled. "And the police officers were saying, ‘No. You need to go grab her and just stay down there.'"

Guerrero said officers told her there was a gunman with hostages in the apartment right next to hers. She was worried because her husband was still inside their apartment, but he was able to get out safely.

After hearing the details of the incident, Guerrero said she's relieved more people weren't hurt.

"That was very sad to even think of that. We have an almost 2-year-old. I couldn't even imagine. So you can't be in the right state of mind to do something like that," she said.

The Tarrant County Medical Examiner identified the suspect as 19-year-old Devonte Cannon. 

Police have not yet released information about the gunman's relationship to the hostages.