Garland SWAT standoff: Second body found in motel room being investigated as homicide
GARLAND, Texas - A Garland SWAT officer fatally shot an armed man Wednesday after he pointed a gun at police and refused to cooperate during a standoff at a Motel 6.
Officers discovered a second deceased person in the same room, who investigators believe died prior to the incident. His death is now being investigated as a homicide.
2nd body found in motel after armed man shot and killed
A SWAT standoff in Garland ended with a man shot and killed by police. After the shooting, a second body was found inside the motel room.
What we know:
Garland police initially responded to a disturbance call at the Motel 6 off LBJ Freeway around 1:50 p.m. Tuesday. The caller reported an issue between motel management and a tenant.
Police told FOX 4 reporters the argument began after the tenant overstayed their paid motel reservation.
Officers attempted to speak with the tenant, later identified as 52-year-old Shawn Dylan Burt, of Hutchins, but Burt pointed a gun at them. Due to the tenant's previous aggravated assault charge on a peace officer with a deadly weapon, SWAT was deployed to the scene.
After obtaining a warrant and evacuating nearby motel guests, the SWAT team tried to negotiate with Burt inside the room, but the suspect refused to communicate with officers.
The team deployed tear gas. However, when an officer approached the room's window, Burt again pointed a gun at the officer, who then fired shots, killing the suspect.
No officers were injured in the incident.
Second Deceased Person Found
After entering the motel room, officers found a second individual who was already deceased. In the later update from officials, he was identified as Donald Bailey, 69, of Dallas.
According to a Garland police release, investigators believe Bailey had been "deceased for some time prior to the incident." Their later update said investigation indicates Bailey died of a gunshot wound. They also said a handgun was found in the motel room.
Garland police are now investigating both the circumstances surrounding Burt's death, and are investigating Bailey's death as a homicide.
What they're saying:
"This is a tragedy however you play it out," said Garland police Lt. Pedro Barineau. "We have two people that are dead, one because they displayed a gun towards a police officer, and the other person we're still trying to determine what was the cause of death, but nonetheless families have been impacted here."
What we don't know:
Authorities also have not spoken about the relationship between the two individuals or whether Burt was involved in Bailey's death.
Details surrounding how long the second person had been in the motel room or the suspect's previous charges remain unclear.
The Source: Information in this article comes from official statements made by Garland police and an interview with