Details Emerge About Suspect Shot & Killed After DPD Chase
DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - A police chase, standoff and deadly shooting of a suspect all happen just outside a North Texas shopping mall.
Sources tell CBS 11 News and Dallas police confirm the man at the center of it all is the now deceased Michael Mayo. Police officers said they had to open fire when they say Mayo pulled out a gun and pointed it toward members of law enforcement.
Friends of the chase suspect told CBS 11 Mayo didn't want to go back to jail and that they believe the 30-year-old knew what would happen if he pointed a weapon at police.
It was in the parking lot of the Dallas Inn Motel, in the 3300 block of Marvin D. Love Freeway, where police approached Mayo, who they say was sitting in a car and looking suspicious.
Dallas police Deputy Chief Gil Garza said, "They [officers] could smell the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle."
Officials said officers at the scene "conducted a check" of the suspect, a witness and the vehicle and learned there was an alert that any occupants of that vehicle "may be armed." After running a check on Mayo officers also learned he had active felony warrants.
According to police, it was after calling for backup that Mayo sped from the scene, nearly running over an officer.
Mayo's police record shows 40 previous offenses and two probation violations, involving drugs and theft.
During a 30-minute pursuit, the suspect would at times stop while police say they were negotiating.
Deputy Chief Garza said, "There was plenty of communication, talking, trying to get him to surrender, [and] trying to get him to come out of the car."
Shoppers at Southwest Center Mall took notice when the pursuit finally came to a stop in the parking lot.
Witness Abraham Munoz said, "He just swerved around through the back and they stopped him right here."
Munoz said he saw Mayo pull out a gun and point it to his head before turning it on officers who fired in front of dozens of witnesses. "Everyone of them took shots at him until there was smoke coming out of his chest."
Witness Ron Shanks explained that the situation just seems unfortunate. "I feel like it's all wrong, but if he pointed a weapon and shot at them first they had to do what they had to do."
Mayo's friends said he would rather die than go back to jail.
Police spent hours at the crime scene investigating but say it appears that officers had no choice. "When the suspect came back out with the weapon the officers saw the threat."
Police have recovered the suspects weapon and are asking the dozens of people who witnessed the shooting to send them any video they may have recorded to help their investigation.
(©2014 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
Latest News:
Top Trending:
- PHOTOS: Your Pet Pictures
