Killeen Police Release Body Cam Footage From Fatal Shooting of Patrick Warren
The Killeen Police Department has released narrated footage of a January 10 encounter between and officer and a man in mental distress that ended with the latter losing his life.
On January 10, 2021, 5-year KPD veteran Officer Reynaldo Contreras was dispatched to the home of 52-year-old Patrick Warren Sr. around 5:40 PM.
Police say someone at the home in the 1600 block of Carrollton Avenue in Killeen had called 9-1-1 and requested a mental health deputy, but one was not available so Officer Contreras and another Killeen PD officer were dispatched since the call came from within city limits.
At a news conference Tuesday, KPD Chief Charles Kimble said the day's snowfall may have caused the other responding officer to run behind. Contreras arrived at the home first and knocked on the door of the home, after which he was told the door was open and invited inside.
The video reveals that Contreras was invited to enter the home, but was not comfortable doing so and walked back outside, saying, "I'm gonna walk back out. I don't work like this."
Contreras' body cam recorded him standing outside the home awaiting assistance while occasionally speaking into the radio to update other officers.
After about two minutes, Mr. Warren steps outside and begins approaching Contreras, who draws an electrical weapon and demands that Mr. Warren show his hands and lie on the ground. Less than 20 seconds later, Contreras fires the weapon and continues giving commands.
Mr. Warren, who does not appear to be armed, then stands up and approaches Contreras once again. Contreras then puts the electrical weapon aside and draws his gun, warning that he will shoot. Seconds later, Contreras fires three shots. Moments later, a second officer arrives at the scene.
Mr. Warren was transported to Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center, where he passed away as a result of his wounds. His family says was under a great deal of stress after losing his job due to the ongoing pandemic and the expiration of his life insurance policy. They say they'd called for help the previous day, and that a mental health professional had been dispatched. Mr. Warren's son disputes the claim that his family was told a mental health deputy was not available the day of the shooting.
You can watch the narrated footage below. WARNING: Although more graphic portions of the video have been blurred by the Killeen Police Department, the video is still disturbing.
At Tuesday's press conference, Chief Kimble said the decision to release the footage was made after the Warren family's attorney last week released footage of the shooting from the perspective of Mr. Warren's doorway.
Chief Kimble said the footage did not give a complete picture of what happened. He said there was some hesitation about releasing the footage, but he felt it should be shown for the sake of the Killeen community. He also requested that the footage previously released be shared with Killeen PD.
Below is footage of Tuesday's press conference as streamed by our partners at KWTX-TV.
Officer Contreras remains on administrative leave while the Texas Rangers assist Killeen PD in investigating the shooting.
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