FORT WORTH, Texas — A Fort Worth officer was fired after an investigation into a 2022 incident in which he shot a suspect believed to be in a stolen vehicle after a chase, the Fort Worth Police Department confirmed.
Officer H. Barron was fired Thursday following an investigation into the Dec. 13, 2022, shooting, police confirmed. Barron had been with the department for 10 years and was assigned to the Patrol Bureau at the time of the shooting.
Fort Worth police responded to a burglary-in-progress call in the 2700 block of White Settlement Road on Dec. 13, 2022. Police said they were told a suspect had driven off in a Range Rover. When they located the vehicle a chase ensued. Officers eventually stopped the driver using spike strips.
Police said officers then gave commands for the suspect to exit the vehicle, but received no responses, at which point officers began to "break out the back window," at which point, Barron shot the suspect, who was taken to a hospital for treatment, police say.
Barron was placed on administrative duty pending the outcome of an investigation into the shooting. After a Tarrant County jury declined to indict Barron, the investigation was concluded, officials say.
However, after a thorough review of the investigation, Barron’s chain of command “determined the level of force used was unjustified,” according to a news release from police. Fort Worth Police Chief Neil Noakes agreed which led to Barron’s firing, according to the news release.
“The Fort Worth Police Department is filled with officers who do their job right every day. In this case, Officer Barron did not conduct himself in a manner that represents the professionalism of our officers,” the news release read. “Our department will continue to hold employees accountable who do not meet the standards expected of a Fort Worth police officer, and in doing so, we will continue to be transparent and open with our community.”
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