Dallas officers fatally shoot armed suspect in Pleasant Grove

DALLAS - Commotion in a Pleasant Grove neighborhood ended with a deadly shootout between a car thief and police early Friday.

The incident started just before 5 a.m. in the 3500 block of Indianola Street. Residents there said a driver was going down the street and hit multiple vehicles, causing damage.

Chief Renee Hall said someone called 911 after the suspect crashed into his vehicle. The caller told police he went outside to see what had happened and the suspect started shooting at him.

Officers began pursuing the suspect a short time later. He drove his stolen vehicle into a creek in the 9300 block of Havencove Drive, Hall said.

A resident who lives in the area said he woke up to the screeching sound of what he believes was a car driving on its rims. He looked out of his window and saw police cars. Then he heard several gunshots.

Delores Contreras watched out her bedroom as the driver of a stolen pickup truck hit several parked cars along Indianola Street, including her neighbor's red Volkswagen Jeta.

“When I looked out, the neighbor was out here I guess trying to get him to stop and he didn't stop,” Contreras recalled. “He kept trying to take out trying to crank the truck. Finally, he took off and it was scraping. Then, you just heard the pops.”

The suspect was shooting at the man who lives across the street from Contreras. The man's mother said the two men know one another but wouldn't elaborate.

Chief Hall said the suspect climbed out of the creek with a weapon.

“He was ordered out of a vehicle by officers, got out of the vehicle with the weapon,” Hall said. “They ordered him to lower the weapon. He raised the weapon in their direction, and he fired shots striking the suspect. He is now deceased.”

Investigators have not said if the suspect actually fired at the officers. They're reviewing bodycam video.

The suspect's weapon was found at the scene. No one else was injured.

The officers involved in the shooting will be placed on routine administrative leave.