Dallas SWAT Officer Shoots, Kills Suspect In Capital Murder At Dallas Cafe
DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - A Dallas SWAT officer shot and killed a capital murder suspect who was carrying an assault rifle while running away from authorities early Thursday morning, police say.
Police say the incident started at around 12:30 a.m. when SWAT officers were called to an apartment complex in the 9300 block of Skillman Street to execute a warrant on suspects for a deadly shooting at a cafe in Dallas.
According to police, the suspects went into Cafe Delicious on South Lamar Street Wednesday evening and fatally shot an employee during a robbery.
As the officers were approaching the vehicle the suspects were in, the suspects got out and started running away from the officers. Police say one of the suspects was carrying an assault rifle.
During a foot chase, police say a SWAT officer shot the suspect who had the assault rifle. The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police were able to arrest the other suspects who ran from the vehicle. Police say the incident involved at least four suspects.
Police are continuing to investigate both incidents involving the suspects. The suspects' identities have not yet been released.
"He was a wonderful person. He always had a smile. Wow," said frequent customer Phillip Richardson, minutes after learning the news.
From regular customers to employees to family, the death of Bryan Harp is stunning.
"He was a good person," said his sister, Jacqueline Harp. "He cared about people. He tried to help people. He gave a lot of people around this neighborhood jobs."
Employee and friend La Tonya Turner said she was cutting yams Wednesday afternoon when they spotted several men walking in.
"By that time, he said, 'Get in the storage.' I said, 'No, I'm not. I'm not getting in the storage.' He said, 'Yeah, no use is them killing us all.'"
She says Harp pushed her into the storage room, and she listened and prayed.
"When they asked him to come out, they told him to get on the ground. He got on the ground, and a few seconds later, I heard gunshots."
Her son was also there.
"I didn't know if it was my son, him. I didn't know who was dead," she said.
"Why would you take his life? Why wouldn't you take what you wanted and let him make it?," said Turner.
"I'm thankful they won't be able to hurt somebody else, but my brother's dead," said Harp. "And he has grandchildren that are going to have to grow up without their grandfather, and it makes no sense."
