The victim can be heard telling officers to kill him before video shows him step out of the tent.
DALLAS — The Dallas Police Department showed body camera footage of a fatal shooting that took place Friday evening, when Dallas officers shot a man who moved towards them while holding a knife.
Footage of the incident shows officers attempting multiple non-lethal methods of incapacitating the victim, 34-year-old Cody Watkins, including with pepper spray, tasers and a foam round. Watkins can be heard telling officers to kill him before he steps out of the tent, police say while still holding a knife, at which point two of the three officers shoot him multiple times.
“Any loss of life is tragic,” Garcia said on Monday afternoon. “This is never our desired outcome.”
Dallas police said the shooting happened after officers responded at approximately 6:45 p.m. Friday to the area of 5850 Beltline Road for a disturbance. Police said the officers, Snr. Cpl. Brandon Massey, Officer Dakota Capparucci and Sgt. Yancy Graves, determined Watkins had committed aggravated assault – family violence with a knife. Officers found Watkins, along with a woman inside a tent in a wooded area, according to DPD.
The man was holding the knife and officers told the man to drop it, according to DPD. The woman was able to get out of the tent, police said, and the suspect moved toward the officers with the knife in hand and two of the officers fired their weapons. Garcia said Graves did not fire his weapon.
Officers began administering first aid to Watkins and called for Dallas Fire Rescue, Garcia said. Watkins was taken to the hospital in critical condition, where he died, police said. The woman was also taken to the hospital for treatment and she was not seriously injured, according to DPD.
DPD said none of its officers were injured in the incident.
“There was one individual that dictated the outcome to this,” Garcia said. “It’s a tragedy. We don’t want it to end like this. Ultimately, it’s a decision that unfortunately every officer has to make at times.”