FBI to review UNT student's death by Denton police officers
DENTON, Texas - The FBI will review the police shooting that killed a University of North Texas student last year.
Denton’s police chief asked for an independent review of Darius Tarver’s death.
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Neighbors called police to his apartment complex in January of 2020 because they said he was acting erratically while carrying a meat clever and a frying pan.
Body camera video shows Tarver ignored commands, charged toward the officers and slashed one of them with his knife. Tasers did not stop him.
One officer shot Tarver. When Tarver got back up and went after another officer, he was Tased a second time and then shot a second and third time.
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Tarver’s family believes he was having a mental health crisis possibly because of a head injury he had recently suffered in a car accident.
They argued the officers aggravated the situation and should not have used lethal force.
A grand jury has already cleared the officers and the Denton Police Department found that they did not violate any of the department’s policies.
The FBI will help determine if a federal investigation should be opened.
RELATED: Denton PD: Officer did not violate rules in fatal shooting