Fort Worth police identify man who died by suicide following shootout with officers
FORT WORTH -- The Fort Worth Police Department released body and surveillance camera footage Monday of a shootout between officers and an armed suspect last week.
The department also identified the suspect as 35-year-old Shane Miller.
On Tuesday, December 12, officers responded to a burglary alarm at Sunbelt Rentals on North Beach Street near Highway 121, just after 9 p.m.
"It was very dangerous; it was very dynamic. It was a running gun battle basically," Fort Worth Police Chief Neil Noakes said during Monday's press conference.
Body camera video shows officers speaking with Miller before he turned and ran.
Officers asked Miller, "what do you have in your pockets?" Miller then replies, "I have a cigarette and a lighter." Officers then ask Miller, "Do you have any weapons on you?" Miller replies "No sir, well I have a razor knife."
After that short conversation, the video shows Miller suddenly turning and running from the three officers. Investigators say the officers fired their tasers first but say the taser either didn't work or did not hit Miller.
The video shows Miller then shoots at officers with a handgun – and that's when those officers returned fire.
"Get on the ground, get on the ground," one officer orders at Miller.
Noakes says the gun battle lasted for about a block – much of the crossfire happening near businesses. Noakes says more than thirty rounds were exchanged between the three officers and the suspect. Thankfully, police say none of the officers or anyone else were hurt.
"When they were chasing the suspect and shots were being exchanged. You can hear the officers saying "watch your backdrop." They mean they have to be aware of any people beyond that backdrop," Noakes explained.
The end of the video shows Miller falling down near Highway 121. The video then ends, but police say that's when he shot and killed himself.
Records show Miller does have a criminal past but has been arrested in Fort Worth for a car burglary. He also was previously indicted in Tarrant County for possession of a controlled substance four times between 2011 and 2018.
Police say that at the time of the shooting – he had a warrant for a patrol violation. Right now, the three officers are on routine administrative leave.
"Obviously, they [the officers] are traumatized. This is not something any officer wants to face. But, we are making sure they have the resources they need to process this and come out on the other side okay," Noakes added.
The investigation is still ongoing. Investigators say they are still looking into whether Miller was the suspect who triggered the initial burglary alarm, and they are also looking into why the taser officers fired did not stop Miller during the chase.
