Original post: Over the weekend, a Dallas police officer shot an armed suspect at the Taco Bell at 4325 Camp Wisdom Road, adding to the tally of officer-involved shootings on pace to eclipse any year in recent memory.
According to the DPD report, officer Cortenay Howard was off duty but in full uniform when he arrived at Taco Bell at 10 a.m. on Sunday for food (brunch?). At a table about five feet away, he spotted a 18-year-old man, yet to be identified by police, "acting nervous and fidgeting." When the man stood up, Howard could see a "brown marijuana cigar" (a.k.a. blunt) above one ear. Howard told the weed-toting suspect to come toward him.
"Fuck you, we ain't got nothing to talk about," the man said, according to the report.
Howard insisted, at which point the man took off running, jumped over a rail inside the store and, according to Howard, pulled a black handgun from his waistband and pointed it at him. Howard fired twice, hitting the man in the stomach. Howard then handcuffed while he lay on the floor. The suspect was taken to Methodist hospital and charged with aggravated assault of a public servant, possession of marijuana, and unlawful carrying of a weapon. DPD's Special Investigations Unit is looking into the incident. Police are withholding the suspect's name and condition until a 10 a.m. press conference today.
This one seems more straightforward than, say, the shooting of John Husband. The suspect was shot in the stomach rather than the back, an entry point bound to raise questions. Also, there is presumably surveillance footage from the Taco Bell to corroborate the officer's version of events. The patrol car in the Husband shooting lacked a dash cam.
Still, there are plenty of questions to be answered. Like: How did Howard know it was a blunt behind the suspect's ear and not just a Black & Mild? And: Doesn't Howard know Taco Bell is terrible? Don't you think that's something you should cover during training? Finally: Taco Bell is open at 10 a.m.? And has breakfast First Meal? Why would anyone put that in their mouth?
