ARLINGTON, Texas — The Arlington Police Department released body-camera video Thursday of a police shooting in which officers shot and killed a man suspected of looking into cars at an apartment complex earlier this month.
In the video, a man is seen lying on the hood of a vehicle as officers approach, shining a flashlight. Officers can be heard in the video yelling at the man, later identified by police as Tony Coward, 34, to put his hands up, before Coward sits up, and appears to reach for a gun at his side and point it toward the officers before multiple shots were fired.
Officers responded to the apartment complex in the 1400 block of Lamar Boulevard shortly after 9 p.m. Oct. 7 after a 911 caller reported a man believed to be armed in the parking lot looking into cars, according to Arlington police.
Two officers arrived and found Coward lying on the hood of a vehicle, shined a flashlight on him and announced themselves as police, according to a news release.
The officers noticed a handgun on Coward’s hip and yelled at him to show his hands as he sat up, but pulled a gun and raised it toward the officers, at which point both officers shot at Coward, hitting him, police say.
Officers rendered aid to Coward until paramedics arrived, police said. He was taken to a local hospital where he was later pronounced dead, according to the news release.
No officers were injured.
Investigators determined Coward fired one shot during the encounter and recovered a spent shell casing and Coward’s gun from the scene, according to police.
The officers were put on administrative leave after the shooting, but have since returned to work, the department said.
Investigations into the shooting are ongoing.
WARNING: The video below provided by the Arlington Police Department has graphic language and images. Viewer discretion is advised.