“How many officers were there? There was one of him. He had a knife, okay, that’s a knife. Why shoot him 8 times,” Bryan Adame said.
FORT WORTH, Texas — A Fort Worth mother is grieving the loss of her 28-year-old son killed in an officer-involved shooting after her 911 call for help. It happened early Wednesday morning following what family members described as a mental health crisis. The Tarrant County Medical Examiner says Brandon Adame died on the scene.
“He was a good kid. I would always see him helping his mom,” Bryan Adame said about his cousin, Brandon.
According to police, Brandon’s mother called 911 just after 4 a.m., requesting officers to come to their Westgate Drive home. She reported that Brandon had attacked and knocked her to the floor during a mental health episode. His mother told WFAA she believed the crisis involving her son stemmed from a change in his medication. His cousin shared that Brandon’s mental health challenges were ongoing.
“He suffered a lot since he was little,” Bryan Adame explained. “He’s always had problems mentally, and physically.”
When officers arrived, police said they observed Brandon threatening his mother with a knife while she was unable to exit through the front door. Police said officers then forced entry through the back door, at which point Brandon allegedly charged at them with a knife, leading to the use of deadly force.
Brandon’s mother showed WFAA bullet holes in the house and clothes damaged from the gunfire. His cousin, Bryan, questions the level of force used during the incident.
“How many officers were there? There was one of him. He had a knife, okay, that’s a knife. Why shoot him 8 times,” Bryan Adame exclaimed.
Fort Worth Police gave Brandon’s mother a copy of the Consent to Search, which is required by law. The document outlines the list of items collected during the search following the shooting. The items included seven casings, five projectiles, two knives, and clothing.
WFAA has learned that the Fort Worth Police Department’s Crisis Intervention Team, a specialized unit designed to address mental health crises, was on the way to the scene but did not arrive before the shooting occurred.
As part of his promise to be as transparent as possible, Fort Worth Police Chief Neil Noakes and his team are putting together an edited video from the officer’s body camera to release to the public. The fatal shooting is under investigation by the Major Case Unit, in conjunction with Internal Affairs, and the Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office.
As the family prepares for Brandon’s funeral, they are seeking answers from the police about the incident.
“He had a lot of hopes for his life,” Bryan Adame said.