Man killed in Dallas SWAT standoff after charging at officers with knife
Man killed in SWAT standoff after charging with a knife
A man was shot and killed by a Dallas SWAT team after he charged at officers with a knife during a standoff at a home on Tuesday night.
DALLAS - A man is dead after being shot by SWAT officers during a standoff at a Dallas home Tuesday night, according to police. The man, who had reportedly barricaded himself inside, charged at officers with a knife.
What we know:
Police responded to a disturbance call at a home near I-635 and Coit Road in far north Dallas around 7:40 p.m. on Tuesday. Upon arrival, a woman in distress opened the door and asked for help. Officers helped her safely exit the home.
Shortly after, a man, Martin James Benes, came into the front yard, waving a knife, before returning inside and barricading himself.
Martin James Benes
A SWAT team and negotiator were called to the scene. After officers attempted to get Benes to surrender, SWAT entered the home. Benes then charged at the officers with a knife, and they shot and killed him. No officers were injured in the incident.
Local perspective:
Police on scene say Benes refused to drop a knife.
Dallas Police Chief, Daniel Comeaux, say a SWAT team arrived and entered, and officers deployed a taser twice but it didn’t work.
"Officers were able to retreat from the man. He then went back inside the house, barricading himself inside the house," said Comeaux.
"At that time the suspect charged the SWAT officers with a knife and he was then shot."
What they're saying:
Family members were concerned about the mental health of their loved one. Paul Benes says that man was his younger brother, Martin James Benes. A Dallas lawyer was recently battling his own criminal charges.
Martin James Benes (left) and Paul Benes (right)
"Yes, I’m shocked that this could happen," said Paul.
"I’m still in disbelief."
Benes’ mother, Judith Jane Benes, says her son was drinking heavily on Tuesday and became angry, realizing family members hid his car to prevent him from driving.
Martin James Benes (left) and Judith Jane Benes (right)
Benes’ mother says, in an act of frustration, he cut off his court-ordered ankle monitor used to track curfew but cut himself in the process.
The family contacted 911 claiming he was erratic and suicidal.
"He said I don’t want to go to jail. They are cruel," said Judith.
Family says police checked on him and nearly left.
"They now have mental illness, they have all these special things we pay for as taxpayers," said Paul.
"They were like, ‘Well, he seems O.K. to us. Would you like us to leave?’ And we’re like, ‘Yes, I think this has been diffused, please leave'. And then, all of a sudden, this one guy comes up and says,‘We can’t do that he has something pending. We’re trying to get a warrant.’"
The Benes family says Martin Benes had many accomplishments in his 46 years. His mental health has been a growing concern in recent days.
"He worked for some of the most prestigious law firms. He has a family, two children that are going to miss him dearly," said Paul.
The backstory:
In February, Benes was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. In court records, police say he tried to run over a neighbor with his car, then resisted arrest and fought off tasers.
Records show that three days later he was accused of stabbing a woman at his home, the new warrant showing a bond violation related to that charge.
It’s unclear if that violation was from cutting an ankle monitor just before the shooting.
What's next:
No officers were injured.
It’s typically practice for the Dallas Police Department to release body camera footage a few days after any officer involved in shootings.
The Source: Information in this article comes from the Dallas Police Department. Additional information was provided from interviews conducted by FOX 4's David Sentendrey.