Police release video of deadly Arlington officer-involved shooting
ARLINGTON, Texas - Arlington released video of a deadly officer-involved shooting that happened earlier this month.
The shooting happened on Oct. 7 at the Blakey Apartments on E. Lamar Boulevard after officers got calls about a suspicious man who was looking into vehicles and possibly had a firearm.
Arlington police fatally shoot armed suspect after reports of suspicious man at apartment complex
An armed man who was reportedly looking into cars in an apartment complex parking lot was fatally shot by Arlington police.
"The last thing anyone in this department wants to do is use deadly force. 99% of the time, we're able to successfully resolve situations without reaching that point," said Arlington Police Chief Al Jones.
But in this case, the responding officers found 34-year-old Tony Coward lying on his back on the hood of a vehicle in the parking lot.
The video shows him pulling a gun from his waist and pointing it at the officers as they approach.
Two officers fired shots, killing Coward.
"As you just saw, once our officers realized Mr. Coward was armed, they began giving him commands to show his hands. Instead, Mr. Coward reached down, grabbed a gun, raised it, and pointed it in the direction of the officers. Both officers then fired their service weapons multiple times, striking Mr. Coward," Chief Jones said.
Police determined Coward also fired one shot during the altercation.
"Although it's difficult to see in the video, know that Mr. Coward fired a round. Investigators recovered a spent shell casing at the scene," Jones said.
No officers were hit, and no one else was hurt.
Police said Coward had minor run-ins with police previously. There were theft, public intoxication, and trespassing charges on his record, but nothing violent.
Two years ago, officers also assisted in an emergency mental health detention on him.
Chief Jones said the officers did not have any of that information when they responded to the suspicious person's call.
"These calls can go from zero to 100 – especially if the person is not following commands – and start to escalate the situation on us," he said.
The two Arlington officers who fired their weapons were placed on routine administrative leave.
They have since returned to work.