Mesquite police fatally shoot chase suspect

MESQUITE, Texas - A man who led police on a long chase is dead after being shot by police in Mesquite early Friday morning.

The high-speed chase began as officers tried to stop a man for running a red light near Interstate 30 and Gus Thomason.

It went through Dallas, Grand Prairie, Balch Springs and back into Mesquite. Officers flatted the suspect’s tires, but he kept going at speeds of up to 100 miles per hour.

The suspect finally stopped on Interstate 635 at Town East Boulevard, but wouldn’t surrender.

“The suspect got out of the vehicle several times and waived a gun around. At different times he yelled back at the officers that he was going to take two of them with him. He got back in the vehicle. At different times he tried to hide his gun,” said Lt. Brian Parrish.

Police said the man used a towel to try to hide his gun and at one point threw a piece of jewelry at officers.

After negotiating for about an hour and a half, he pointed the gun at the officers and they opened fire.

Mario Martinez, 29,  died at the scene. Police said he had an extensive criminal history.

Northbound I-635 was closed for several hours for an investigation. A bomb squad robot was brought in to inspect the car. But it has since been towed away and the highway was reopened.

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