Arlington officer fatally shoots man who came out of apartment with knife, police say

A man who came out of a north Arlington apartment brandishing a knife was shot and killed by police Thursday afternoon, authorities said.

At around 4:40 p.m. Thursday, Arlington police responded to an apartment complex in the 2700 block of Lawrence Road to investigate reports of a possible stabbing, according to a news release from Arlington police.

When officers arrived at the apartment, just southwest of where North Collins Streets intersects NE Greens Oaks Boulevard, they observed a man looking out a window, the release says. Due to the nature of the call, officers set up a perimeter around the apartment and gave the man commands to come outside and show his hands. The man came out of the apartment holding a knife, according to the release.

Officers instructed the man multiple times to drop the knife, but he did not comply, police said. The man then “suddenly” moved in the direction of the officers and one of the officers fired his gun, the release states.

The man fell to the ground, but quickly stood up and began running toward a wooded area on the east side of the complex between apartment buildings and North Collins, according to police. Officers chased the man on foot as they continued to give him commands to stop and drop the knife.

As officers approached an embankment, the man turned around, raised the knife and began moving toward them, police said. The same officer who discharged his weapon fired it again, according to the release.

The man turned away from officers and began running down the embankment into a field along North Collins when he “went to the ground” still holding the knife, police said.

A second officer deployed his Taser, immobilizing the man, and detained him, according to the release. As they were placing him in handcuffs, they discovered the man had a gunshot wound, the release says.

Officers immediately began performing life-saving measures until paramedics arrived, according to police. The man was taken to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

The Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office will identify the deceased once next of kin have been notified.

No officers were injured during the incident.

Additional officers may have used force with “less lethal options,” which will be confirmed in the investigation, police said.

Other responding officers went back to the apartment and conducted a protective sweep to check for anyone who may have been injured or in need of assistance, but did not find anyone inside.

Officers also checked with local hospitals to see if anyone arrived at an emergency room with stab wounds or other injuries, but did not receive any reports.

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Police say it is possible that the man with the knife placed the original 911 call.

The officer who shot the man has been placed on administrative leave.