DESOTO, Texas — A DeSoto police officer shot and killed a man holding a child early Sunday morning after the man allegedly threatened to shoot officers, the department said.
The child was not hurt and was released to family members, DeSoto police said in a news release.
Officers were called around 4 a.m. to the 1100 block of Greenbriar Drive for a man who was carrying a small child and was knocking on random doors and trespassing through front and back yards. Witnesses also told police two women were with him at the time.
When officers arrived, they found 34-year-old Jesse Martinez holding a gun and a child. Officers attempted to de-escalate the situation, however, Martinez threatened to shoot any officer that he encountered, DeSoto police said.
The group then ran toward a creek behind the homes. Officers found them about 30 minutes later in the 1200 block of Springbrook Drive.
DeSoto PD tried to negotiate with Martinez to let the child go and drop his gun. Police said he refused.
Fearing for the safety of the child, an officer with a rifle shot the man, police said. Martinez was pronounced dead at the scene. No officers were hurt.
"What if someone were to open the door, what were they planning to do?" Angelina Salinas said to WFAA. Salinas said one of the women knocked on her door just after 3 a.m. Sunday.
"I’m really glad we didn’t open the door."
Raeshaan Tanner, who lives a block over from Salinas said the group hit her house next.
"It was like a hard knock, like someone panic knocking trying to get into the door," Tanner said describing hearing the knocking on her door.
"They wanted a ride or an Uber."
Jerry Hall, a neighbor a few doors down, said he heard the three running away from police.
"It’s…it’s been tough…. just thinking about what happened last night."
Authorities have not yet released the name of the police officer who shot Martinez. Per department policy, that officer has been placed on paid administrative leave.
Investigators took the two women in for questioning. The child was given to family members. It's unclear if or how the child, Martinez, and the two women are related.
At the time of his death, DeSoto PD said Martinez was wanted on multiple warrants including aggravated kidnapping for ransom. His criminal history included a warning to law enforcement to “use extreme caution when approaching this individual," police said in a news release.
The Grand Prairie police department and the Dallas County District Attorney's Office are investigating the shooting under a protocol that calls for an outside agency to investigate shootings involving law enforcement officers.