Cedar Hill man was 'hearing voices' before shooting Amazon delivery driver: affidavit
Man was 'hearing voices' prior to shooting Amazon driver
A Cedar Hill man is facing charges after police say he shot and struck an Amazon delivery driver attempting to deliver a package to his family's home. FOX 4's Peyton Yager has more.
CEDAR HILL, Texas - Police arrested a 33-year-old man after he shot an Amazon delivery driver outside a Cedar Hill home. An arrest affidavit states the suspect was experiencing a mental health episode at the time of the shooting.
Delivery driver shooting in Cedar Hill
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Amazon delivery driver shot while working in Texas
An Amazon delivery driver is recovering after being shot twice during an early morning shift this week. Police say an arrest has been made, but have not identified the suspect.
What we know:
Yirmar Martinez, a delivery driver for Amazon, says she was shot by 33-year-old Samuel Laird while delivering packages on Oct. 12.
The shooting happened after Martinez pulled into a Cedar Hill home driveway. Martinez says she turned her high beams on to try and see a front door, pulling forward to an access road near the house.
That's when Martinez says she saw Laird standing outside with a gun. Martinez claims Laird said something in English she could not understand before he opened fire against her.
Martinez was shot twice, with one bullet grazing the top of her head and another hitting her in the lower back.
Police found Martinez in a nearby parking lot. Her injuries are non-life-threatening.
Police later arrested Laird on October 14. He faces a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon from the incident.
Samuel Laird, 33 (Dallas County Jail)
Dig deeper:
An arrest affidavit obtained by FOX 4 states Laird's parents believed he was having a "mental health episode" at the time of the shooting, and were planning to take him to the hospital when police arrived at the residence.
An AR-15 rifle was located at the foot of Laird's bed within the home, and shell casings compatible with the rifle were found in the home's driveway.
Pieces of Martinez's vehicle, including a mirror and plastic undercarriage pieces, were also found in the residence's yard area.
Laird later told investigators "he was hearing voices that said they were there to kill him." Laird's parents told investigators he hadn't been sleeping well and began hearing voices a week prior to the shooting, according to the affidavit.
What they're saying:
"We don't believe this was a self-defense situation. We believe this was an attempt to cause harm to her," Assistant Chief of Cedar Hill Police Colin Chenault told FOX 4's Peyton Yager.
"We captured this person quickly and provided care to the victim. Luckily, she is OK."
Amazon statement
Amazon sent the following statement to FOX 4 about the shooting:
"The safety of delivery partners is a top priority, and we've been in contact with her to make sure she knows what support is available. We’re looking into this, and we’ll cooperate with law enforcement as they investigate."
What's next:
Laird remains in the Dallas County Jail on a $100,000 bond.
The Source: The information in this article comes from the Cedar Hill Police Department, an arrest affidavit for Samuel Laird, and previous FOX 4 reporting.