Police Officers Not Indicted In Teen's Fatal Shooting
GRAND PRAIRIE (CBSDFW.COM) - A Tarrant County grand jury has declined to indict three Grand Prairie police officers in connection with the fatal shooting of a 16-year-old suspect during a shootout on Christmas Day.
The grand jurors no-billed the officers on Tuesday in the December 25, 2013, death of Peyton Cole Barbour.
The incident began about 4:30 a.m. when Grand Prairie police pulled up behind a parked car in the 3100 block of North Camino Lagos and attempted to speak to the driver—later identified as Barbour. Barbour fled and led officers on a high-speed chase before abandoning the car he was driving in a field. Police later determined the car was stolen.
Barbour fled on foot and shot at a pursuing officer, who returned fire. The teenager disappeared into the woods. Grand Prairie police set up a perimeter and searched the area for hours. About 2:00 p.m., officers found Barbour about a mile from the original traffic stop.
He fired at the officers with a 9mm Glock handgun that was reported stolen in a residential burglary. Officers attempted to negotiate with Barbour, imploring him to drop his weapon. But Barbour refused to do so and again fired numerous shots at the officers. Officers returned fire, shooting Barbour twice. He was taken by helicopter ambulance to an area hospital where he died in surgery.
"Grand Prairie officers made numerous attempts over an extended period to convince Barbour to lay down his firearm," said Deputy Chief District Attorney Jack Strickland. "Only after he had repeatedly refused to do so and had wounded two officers did they return fire with fatal consequences. The officers went above and beyond what the law required of them."
Two officers were wounded during the incident—one was shot in the foot and another was injured by shattered glass while seated in his patrol car. Both were treated and released.
Since none of the officers involved were arrested, charged or indicted in connection with this event, the District Attorney's Office won't release their names.
The case was presented by Deputy Chief District Attorney Jack Strickland and Assistant District Attorney Robert Huseman.
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