FORT WORTH, Texas — A man died after a reported attempted suicide call in which responding police officers were believed to have fired their weapons Monday night in Fort Worth, officials said.
Police were still investigating whether the man died of a self-inflicted injury, though MedStar crews said it was self-inflicted.
According to police, the incident started around 6 p.m. in the the 4800 block of Selkirk Drive, near Granbury Road and Interstate 20 in southwest Fort Worth.
In a news conference, Fort Worth police Sgt. Leah Wagner said officers were responding to an attempted suicide call around 6 p.m., when a man reported that he was armed with a weapon and wanted to harm himself.
Officers could not initially find the man, Executive Assistant Chief Robert Alldredge said. Police then received calls from his family that he was dealing with a potential mental health crisis, and an about an hour after the initial call, officers encountered the man, Alldredge said.
Sgt. Wagner said that when officers arrived, they approached the man, who was outside a car that was believed to be his. At some point after making contact with the man, shots were fired, Wagner said.
The man, who police say lived nearby, was pronounced dead on the scene.
More details about how the shooting unfolded was not released. The man's name has not been released.
Fort Worth PD Executive Assistant Chief Robert Alldredge told WFAA that police believe two officers fired their weapons. According to FWPD, the department is investigating, and a handgun was recovered from the man. It was not yet clear if the handgun had been fired, Alldredge said.
Sgt. Wagner said no officers or community members were hurt.
"We know the officers received calls from family members and the decedent himself," Alldredge said. "Honestly, our thoughts go out to the family right now, because they're going through a trying time. Their loved one was involved in a mental health crisis, and I'm sure they did not expect tonight to end up the way that it did. And I know our officers, whenever they responded to this call, the last thing they wanted to do was get involved in an officer-involved shooting. All they wanted to do was try and help this individual."
Suicide prevention starts with recognizing the warning signs of suicide and taking them seriously. Talking openly about suicidal thoughts and feelings can save a life.
If you or anyone you know is in need of help, you can contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or 800-273-TALK (8255). You can also text the lifeline at 741741 or chat online here.