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Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Update: Independent witness says police shot man who had both hands in the air

Police remain at the scene of the shooting near Military Parkway and St. Augustine Road. 
(Claire Cardona/Staff)


Update at 5:50 p.m., Dec. 10, by Tristan Hallman: Dallas police said in a statement that an independent witness told investigators that the shooting victim was reclining in the passenger seat with both hands in the air.

Officer Amy Wilburn perceived Kelvion Walker, 19, to be “an imminent threat” when she was approaching the car, police said in the statement. But no weapon was found at the scene, police said.

Investigators are reviewing dash-cam video of the incident.

Police said the driver of the car ran off and left the car in gear. When Wilburn approached the car, she didn't know Walker was still inside, police said.

Walker remains in critical condition, and hasn’t been charged with any crime.

Wilburn is a 12-year veteran of the department.

We'll have much more in tomorrow’s Dallas Morning News.

Update at 6:27 p.m., Dec. 9: About 3 p.m., Dallas police located a vehicle that had been stolen earlier in a carjacking in the 3600 block of St. Augustine Road, police said.

Deputy Chief Gil Garza said while police were conducting surveillance, multiple people got into the vehicle. Additional officers were notified, and the suspect began driving the vehicle. Before officers could stop the vehicle, the suspects sped off and then came to a stop a short distance later in the same block and exited the vehicle.

“One of the officers engaged one of the suspects exiting the passenger side, which led to the officer firing their weapon at the suspect,” Garza said.

The suspect was transported to Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas and is reported to be in critical condition. The officer was not hurt.

Police said the other suspects remain at large. Police have not given a description of the suspects or said how many there are.

Police closed off the scene at the St. Augustine Townhomes complex and a K-9 unit was called in.

The shooting comes a few weeks after Chief David Brown changed policy to allow any Dallas police officer involved in a police shooting to remain silent for 72 hours. Before giving a statement about a shooting, officers can watch any available footage. Previously only the officer who discharged their weapon could view the footage. The new policy applies whether the officer fired a weapon or witnessed the shooting.

Tristan Hallman reports that previously, an officer who witnessed a shooting would have been required to give a statement to investigators within hours of the incident. The officer who fired typically spoke right away, though they were not required to do so.

The officer, whose name has not been released, has been placed on routine administrative leave.

Original item at 4:48 p.m., Dec. 9: Police are investigating an officer-involved shooting this afternoon in Pleasant Grove.

The shooting began as a robbery call about 2:30 p.m. near Military Parkway and St. Augustine roads, police say.

Initial reports are that an officer shot the suspect. No word on that person’s condition, but the officer is apparently unharmed.

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