Mesquite police release body-worn camera footage of fatal shooting incident

Mesquite police have recently released the body-worn camera footage of a tragic incident where a 19-year-old man was fatally shot by an officer. According to the police, the officer opened fire after the man refused to comply with commands to stop moving his car.

Incident Details

The incident occurred around 3 a.m. on December 14, when a stolen silver Hyundai sedan caught the attention of an officer on routine patrol near Cartwright Road and Edwards Church Road in Mesquite. The Hyundai was being followed by a Chrysler sedan.

Both vehicles eventually parked at a nearby 7-Eleven gas station. Shortly after, a caller reported that their Hyundai sedan had just been stolen from their residence near Clay Mathis Drive and Edwards Church Road.

Surveillance footage from the gas station revealed that the driver of the Hyundai entered the 7-Eleven with one of the passengers from the Chrysler.

Officer’s Response

While the two men were inside the convenience store, the officer arrived at the scene, exited his patrol car, and approached the Hyundai with his flashlight in his left hand and gun raised in his right. However, the car was found to be empty.

As the two men left the store and started walking towards the Chrysler, the officer repeatedly shouted at them to get on the ground. The body-cam footage clearly shows one of the men raising his hands in the air before both individuals fled through the parking lot and out of frame.

The officer then provided descriptions of the suspects to incoming officers and proceeded to order the driver of the Chrysler, identified as 19-year-old Payton Lawrence, to turn off the vehicle and stop moving it. At the time, there were three other individuals in the car with Lawrence.

According to the footage, the officer forcefully warned Lawrence, saying, “Do not move or I will f—ing kill you, do you understand me?”

While the officer was relaying information to dispatch, Lawrence placed the car in reverse and began backing away from the gas pump. In response, the officer struck the car’s hood and commanded Lawrence to shut off the vehicle, repeating the order multiple times.

Despite the officer’s instructions, Lawrence stopped briefly before reversing again, moving further away from the pump. The officer aimed his gun at Lawrence and continued yelling at him to stop.

As the car continued to move forward, the officer fired three shots into the front windshield using his 9 mm handgun. He immediately reported the gunfire over his radio.

The officer then opened the front passenger door and pointed his firearm at Lawrence, instructing him not to move. He also opened the back passenger seat door and warned the individuals in the backseat to remain still. One of the passengers raised his hands in the air, as captured in the footage.

The car eventually rolled forward, crossing over a curb and coming to a stop in a grassy area. The officer then removed Lawrence from the vehicle and performed life-saving measures, according to the police. However, the specifics of the medical treatment provided were not disclosed.

Investigation and Aftermath

The two other individuals inside the Chrysler were questioned and subsequently released. However, 19-year-old Kevon Moore of Dallas, who was also in the car, was arrested on outstanding warrants. The exact charges against Moore were not specified in Mesquite jail records.

The authorities were unable to locate the two men who initially fled the scene.

During the investigation, four firearms, including an AR pistol, were discovered inside the Chrysler.

The Mesquite Police Department, while refraining from disclosing the officer’s name due to the ongoing investigation, revealed that he has been with the department for 17 years.

Once the department concludes its investigation, the case will be referred to the Dallas County district attorney’s office for review. Additionally, the district attorney’s office has dispatched its own investigators to conduct an independent investigation.

The Mesquite Police Department’s internal affairs unit will also conduct an investigation to determine whether the officer’s actions and use of deadly force adhered to department policies and procedures.