MESQUITE, Texas — A traffic stop in Mesquite for a stolen car led to a police shooting that left one person dead, three people detained and two more people on the run, officials say.
Mesquite police said an officer spotted a stolen vehicle at approximately 3:03 a.m. Thursday and noticed the vehicle was being followed by another vehicle. The officer initiated a traffic stop on both vehicles at a 7-Eleven convenience store in Mesquite, located at the corner of Faithon P Lucas Sr. Boulevard and E. Cartwright Street, and two people ran away from the stolen vehicle.
Mesquite police said there was an "engagement" with the second vehicle and shots were fired, where the officer discharged his weapon multiple times into the second vehicle. Those shots hit one person in the second vehicle and that man died, according to police.
"It does not appear at this time that there were shots fired at that officer," Brandon Ricketts, with Mesquite PD, said. "We will know more information when we get access to the video from the store, the officers body camera, any witness information and the witness’ interview. We will have those facts later on."
The person who died had an AR pistol, police said, and multiple other weapons were inside the vehicle as well.
"I came down here to get information and to see what happened," said Stephen Lawrence. He believes his son, 19-year-old Payton Lawrence, was the person killed by the officer. Lawrence said his daughter's car was the second vehicle involved.
He went to Mesquite police headquarters and spoke with a detective.
"There was a police shooting. We want to see if it's justified," Lawrence said. "A lot of emotion going on right now for myself and the whole family."
Thursday evening, the Medical Examiner's Office identified his son, Payton, as the person who died in the shooting.
Police said the officer who fired his weapon is a veteran of 17 years with the Mesquite Police Department.
An internal affairs investigation will be conducted. Dallas County will also investigate the shooting independently.
Three people were detained at the scene and the two people who ran away are at large police said.
No officers were hurt in this incident, according to Mesquite police.
Editor's note: A previous version of this story reported that a rifle was found near the suspect. Police said in a press conference that it was an AR pistol.
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