The Dallas Police Department released body cam footage on Monday of an officer-involved shooting that resulted in the death of a suspected robber in the early hours of July 4.
The incident began with officers responding to a robbery call at an illegal game room in the 2900 block of Lancaster around 1 a.m. Video footage showed the suspect, 34-year-old Timothy Jefferson, and another suspect rounding up people in the game room parking lot and forcing them inside. At least one person was pistol-whipped during the robbery, according to the Dallas police.
After the robbery, four suspects fled the scene, including Jefferson, who ran toward Senior Corporal Ruben Martinez, who was on patrol nearby.
Jefferson and Martinez briefly pointed their guns at each other before Jefferson dropped his gun. Police reported that Jefferson then moved towards the weapon, prompting Martinez to fire four shots at Jefferson.
Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia revealed that Officer Martinez has been with the department since 2012 and was not wearing his body camera at the time as the suspect approached his vehicle before he could start recording.
Jefferson was taken to a local hospital, where he later died from his injuries. Garcia noted that Jefferson had a history of criminal activities, including previous prison time for multiple business robberies in 2009.
Council member Carol King acknowledged that illegal gaming centers have been an issue in the area and stated that efforts are being made to shut them down.
“We are really cracking down on those businesses that don’t add value to our community… And oftentimes these are storefronts, and they appear to be legitimate on the outside of the front.”
Investigators confirmed that four people were involved in the robbery. Two suspects have been apprehended, while one remains at large. No officers were harmed during the incident. The illegal gaming center has been closed, and the owner has been arrested.