Fort Worth police have released body-worn camera footage from a late-night domestic disturbance on Bonita Drive that ended in an officer-involved shooting and a trip to the hospital for the man at the center of it all.
Officers were called out last Wednesday after reports of a domestic disturbance and a man firing rounds in the street, according to witnesses. The newly released video tracks the lead-up to the confrontation and the split-second moment when an officer opened fire. The man, whose case remains under investigation, was taken to a hospital after the shooting.
As reported by WFAA, the department made the footage public, and local outlets quickly picked it up. The Fort Worth Police Department also pushed out an update on its official channels, saying detectives with its Major Case Unit are handling the case and that more details will come once evidence collection is complete.
What the footage shows
Body-worn and neighborhood security cameras captured a man firing shots into the neighborhood before officers arrived, according to NBC 5. When officers confronted him, Fort Worth Police Chief Eddie Garcia told reporters the man "did not follow orders" before an officer fired.
Family members later told local television crews they believe the man in the video is Alejandro Martinez. Police had not immediately released a name. The man was taken to a hospital, where he was first listed in critical condition and later reported stable by The Dallas Morning News.
Investigation and response
The Fort Worth Police Department says detectives with its Major Case Unit are leading the investigation and will review the body-worn camera footage as part of that process, according to the Fort Worth Police Department. The agency is also asking neighbors to share any video or information they might have, and has directed tipsters to contact police or Tarrant County Crime Stoppers.
Legal review
Detectives are compiling video, witness statements and other evidence for a criminal review, a step local outlets note is standard after officer-involved shootings. So far, officials have not announced any criminal charges or internal disciplinary actions. Prosecutors will decide whether to pursue charges once the investigative file is complete.
Why it matters
Fort Worth has released body camera footage from other recent officer-involved shootings, a practice city officials say is meant to boost transparency. Earlier this month, local reporting detailed another video release and the immediate public scrutiny that followed, underscoring how camera footage now sits at the center of these kinds of investigations and the conversations that come with them.
