A domestic afternoon in Red Oak turned deadly today when an Ellis County deputy shot and killed an armed man after a string of frantic 911 calls about gunfire and threats of self-harm.
Deputies were dispatched around 3:36 p.m. to the 100 block of Carol Lane after multiple callers reported a man yelling, possibly firing a gun, and threatening to hurt himself, according to the Ellis County Sheriff’s Office. When deputies found the man, one deputy repeatedly ordered him to drop his firearm. Officials say the suspect refused and instead pointed the weapon at the deputy, who then opened fire.
The man was struck by the gunfire and taken to a hospital, where he later died, the sheriff’s office said.
What the sheriff’s office says
The Ellis County Sheriff’s Office told CBS News that deputies gave multiple verbal commands before the shooting. After the man was shot, deputies and other first responders began life-saving measures at the scene before he was transported to the hospital.
According to the sheriff’s office, the Texas Rangers have been called in to lead the investigation. The man’s name has not been released.
Texas Rangers to lead the inquiry
The Texas Department of Public Safety says the Texas Rangers are typically the lead investigators on major violent crimes and officer-involved shootings in the state. Their role includes crime-scene processing and conducting witness interviews. Texas DPS notes that the Rangers handle these types of probes statewide.
Names withheld as investigation continues
The identities of both the deputy and the man who was killed are being withheld while the investigation is ongoing, the sheriff’s office told CBS News. Officials have asked anyone with information about what happened on Carol Lane to contact the Ellis County Sheriff’s Office, as county investigators and the Rangers continue their work.
About Red Oak
Red Oak is a northern Ellis County suburb located roughly 20 minutes south of Dallas, according to the city’s official profile. City of Red Oak documents describe the community as a fast-growing city along Interstate 35E.
Details released so far remain limited, and many key questions are still unanswered. We will update this report as officials release more information.
