ABILENE, Texas —
A 26-year-old man was shot by Abilene Police officers Tuesday after an hours-long standoff at an Abilene home.
The APD said the incident started at around 2:12 p.m. Tuesday, officers were dispatched to the corner of South 7th Street and Alameda Road for a disturbance in progress. A man, later identified as Jeremy Bennett, 36, had a handgun and was threatening two women inside a home.
Bennett ran from the original crime scene and was found in a nearby home. Officers set a perimeter around the home and called SWAT and the Crisis Negotiations Team in to assist. Bennett had an active, unrelated warrant for felon in possession of a firearm.
Once the SWAT team arrived, crisis negotiators contacted Bennett and negotiated off and on for several hours in an attempt to get him out of the house peacefully. Police got a warrant for the house where Bennett was barricaded. The SWAT team deployed gas into the house numerous times.
He ultimately came out of the house, still brandishing the handgun. Officers told Bennett to put the gun down multiple times, then deployed a less lethal impact weapon, which they said was ineffective.
Bennett raised the gun in a threatening manner and pointed it in the officers' direction. The officers simultaneously discharged their firearms, striking Bennett. Abilene Fire Department medics were already on scene and rendered medical aid, but Bennett died at an Abilene hospital. His next of kin was notified.
All involved officers will be placed on paid administrative leave per department policy.
An investigation will run concurrently between the Texas Rangers and the Abilene Police Department Major Investigations Bureau.
