Mesquite police release video of officer shooting suspect after police chase

MESQUITE, Texas - Mesquite police released video of an officer shooting a suspect earlier this week.

What We Know: On the morning of Dec. 16, shortly before 3 a.m., Mesquite police officers were investigating a suspicious person in the area of a building near I-30 and Sorrento Drive.

While they were investigating, police heard several gunshots in the area.

Body and dash camera video shows the officers diving for cover.

Mesquite police say the gunfire was close enough that they believed they were being fired upon.

Moments later, the officer saw a speeding vehicle exit on Gus Thomasson Road and then try to turn around to get back on the interstate in the opposite direction.

But police said the driver lost control of the vehicle and crashed. Three men jumped out of the vehicle and began to run.

An officer can be heard yelling at one of the suspects to get on the ground. The suspect continued to run and the Mesquite officer claimed that he could see the suspect grabbing for a gun.

"Get on the ground or I'll f***ing shoot you," the officer is heard saying.

The officer then fired three times, hitting the suspect. 

A pistol was found on the suspect, according to police.

Two other guns were found on the ground near the vehicle and another was found inside the vehicle.

Edward Williams, the suspect who was shot, has been charged with evading arrest, Montrell Johnson, the driver of the vehicle, was charged with unlawful carrying of a weapon and Landon Watson, another occupant of the car, was also charged with the unlawful carrying of a weapon.

Additional charges may be filed.

The officer who shot Williams is a 5-year veteran of the force.

What We Don't Know: The officer's name has not been released at this time.

The Internal Affairs Unit is investigating the shooting to determine if the officer's use of deadly force was justified.