SCHLEICHER COUNTY, Texas — UPDATE: (4:07 p.m. May 14): The Texas Department of Public Safety has provided an update on the law enforcement activity in eastern Schleicher County that began Wednesday evening.
According to the update, the man who barricaded himself in a home there has died.
The update stated, at approximately 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, DPS was called by Schleicher County Sheriff’s Office to assist with an armed male subject who had barricaded himself inside his residence after an altercation between family members.
After a lengthy standoff, the male subject exited the residence, and gunfire exchanged between the subject and law enforcement officers.
The subject, who has not been officially identified, died as a result of his injuries. The Texas Rangers are investigating this incident.
As this is an active investigation, no further information is available at this time.
UPDATE (10:55 a.m May 14): The Eldorado Success reports law enforcement has canceled the call for a paramedic at the scene of the standoff in eastern Schleicher County Thursday morning.
According to the newspaper's updated report, the suspect was reportedly shot and his condition is unknown. Indications are, however, that the suspect is no longer considered to be a threat, the report said.
No one else is said to have been injured.
ORIGINAL STORY: The Eldorado Success newspaper reports law enforcement officers have established a perimeter around a home on a ranch in eastern Schleicher County. The paper said a gunman has reportedly barricaded himself inside the home.
In a Facebook Live video Thursday morning, the man said, "Texas Rangers trying to oppress me." The video ended abruptly as the man said, "Here come the cops."
According to the Eldorado Success, deputies from Schleicher and Menard counties were joined by Texas Department of Public Safety troopers and Texas game wardens Wednesday evening, to watch the mobile home where the gunman allegedly threatened his parents with a weapon before barricading himself inside the home.
Schleicher County Chief Deputy Jason Chatham responded to a 9-1-1 call at a remote ranch when a caller said he and his wife were hiding in a pasture after their son had threatened them, the newspaper report said. Chatham called for backup, as well as assistance from Menard County.
Several units from both sheriff’s offices responded to the call, along with a DPS trooper and a game warden, according to the report.
The suspect is said to be a 47-year-old male and is believed to be in possession of several weapons. In the social media posting, the man was holding a weapon as he recorded his video, making references to "Waco" and "Ruby Ridge."
Officers found the man’s parents and took them to safety, before setting up the perimeter around the home. Ambulances from Schleicher and Menard counties staged near the home, in case they were needed, the report states.
Thursday morning, the Success reported an armored tactical vehicle had been called in, along with at least one Texas Ranger and the DPS SWAT team from Austin.
At 9:30 a.m. Thursday, no injuries had been reported, although there had been a report that the subject had fired his weapon at what was believed to be an abandoned vehicle.
This is a developing story. We have reached out to the Texas Department of Public Safety for comment. More information will be posted as it becomes available.
