Body camera video shows man shot by Arlington police on Oct. 7 drawing his gun before officers open fire

The man killed by Arlington police on Oct. 7 pulled a gun on officers and fired at least once before officers shot and killed him, Police Chief Al Jones said at Thursday’s news conference.

The man was identified as 34-year-old Tony Coward. He was then shot by officers who were trying to administer life-saving first aid until paramedics arrived. Coward later died in hospital.

Officers were responding to reports of a suspicious person at an apartment complex in the 1400 block of East Lamar Boulevard, just north of Interstate 30 near North Collins Street.

According to police, 911 callers said they saw a man wandering around the apartment complex parking lot and looking into several cars.

The call came in around 9 p.m. on Oct. 7, and officers arrived about 10 minutes later. They began searching the parking lot and eventually found Coward lying on top of a car.

Body camera footage released Thursday shows officers approaching the man in a dark parking lot, with flashlights providing the only illumination. He was on the hood of a car when officers approached. The officers identify themselves as police and ask Coward what is happening.

In the body camera video, Coward does not immediately respond to officers. One of them swears and turns off his light, apparently seeing the gun in Coward’s pants. He then walks in front of another vehicle and draws his gun, warning a police officer.

The officer shouted, “Police, hands in the air.”

This time Coward answers by sitting down. He looks at the officers who order him to raise his hands. When he pulls his gun from his pants, both officers appear to fire approximately seven or eight shots. The coward falls to the ground and the cops stop shooting, then the broadcast portion of the video ends.

Courtesy of Arlington Police Department

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Kindness

Jones said at the press conference that Coward did not live in the apartments but had family who did. Jones said he thinks that’s why Coward was in the area.

According to Jones, Coward had a history of run-ins with police.

The police chief said Coward was charged with theft, trespassing and public intoxication. Court records show he was convicted on charges including evading arrest, burglary of a habitation, illegal carrying of a weapon and failure to identify a fugitive or intentionally providing false information.

None of the officers were injured. Both were placed on administrative leave following the shooting, per department policy. Criminal and administrative investigations continue. Regardless of the findings, it is common departmental practice for authorities to send the case to a grand jury once the investigation is complete.