TERRELL, Texas — Although 16-year veteran police officer Chris Lee knows all too well the dangers associated with confronting an armed suspect with a gun, having been shot in the line of duty in 2001, a potentially-deadly situation with a suspected armed individual on Saturday night had a peaceful resolution.
TERRELL, Texas — Although 16-year veteran police officer Chris Lee knows all too well the dangers associated with confronting an armed suspect with a gun, having been shot in the line of duty in 2001, a potentially-deadly situation with a suspected armed individual on Saturday night had a peaceful resolution.
Police officials say Lee used “exceptional discretion" to preserve life in what was later determined to be an attempted suicide-by-cop incident.
Terrell Police Department Captain A.D. Sansom says Lee answered the call for a man armed with a shotgun at Arlie White Park on Saturday night around 8:30 p.m.
The original 911 caller reported a black male in a grey Ford Taurus armed with a shotgun, according to Sansom.
Lee observed a grey Ford Taurus parked at Northgate and Oak Post Drive near the park with a man matching the description seated in the driver’s seat.
“As the officer approached from his vehicle, the male in the driver's seat of the Taurus opened the door,” stated Sansom. “Quick verbal commands directed the driver to raise his hands.”
“He only raised one hand and the other was not visible to the officer,” states Sansom. “Due to the facts of the call, the officer continued to give verbal commands to show his other hand.”
Sansom says the man raised what appeared to be a shotgun as Lee continued to shout commands.
“The officer did not overreact and eventually the subject responded to the commands and lowered the weapon back down into the floor board of the vehicle,” he said.
Lee was able to talk the man into exiting the vehicle with his hands up as backup arrived to assist in taking the man into custody without further incident.
Sansom says the man told police officers he had intended suicide by cop as evident in statements, evidence observed at the scene, and a hand-written note which supported his plan of suicide.
Officers later determined the shotgun was a toy gun which was modified and painted to represent a real weapon.
The man was taken to Terrell State Hospital for evaluation. No injuries were reported in the incident.
No criminal charges have been filed at this time.
“The officers, specifically the primary officer involved in this situation, relied on the fundamental values of self and this police agency,” stated Sansom. “By applying their training, utilizing their experience, using excellent verbal skills, a potential tragedy was averted.”
“The Terrell Police Department, as well as the Chief of Police, is eternally grateful to this police officer for this positive outcome,” stated Sansom.
Lee, who is from Terrell and joined the department in 1998, is being recommended for official commendation. Lee was shot in the line of duty while in Terrell in 2001.
“Although his actions could clearly be deemed as ‘just doing his job,’ it is the desire of the police department to affirmatively reinforce adherence to the values of respect for human life, even in the face of substantial personal risk for doing so,” stated Sansom.
