Teen Steals Texas Deputy's Gun, Kills Self

MONTANA VISTA, Texas -- A 19-year-old man killed himself Friday afternoon after grabbing a sheriff's deputy's gun near Mountain View High School, according to the El Paso County Sheriff's Office.

The man and the deputy had gotten into a brief foot chase and a struggle about 4:30 in the 14900 block of Greg Road in Montana Vista, said Deputy Jesse Tovar, a spokesman for the Sheriff's Office.

During the struggle, the man tried to grab the deputy's Taser and then obtained his gun, Tovar said.

Officials said the man pointed the gun first at the officer and then at himself. He then shot himself in the head.

He was dead at the scene, Tovar said.

"This could have turned out a lot worse," Tovar said. "Our deputies risk their lives every day. You never know what the mindset is of someone when you encounter them. This individual had a felony warrant and a violent history."

Neither the man nor the deputy was identified on Friday.

Tovar said he couldn't recall a similar instance in recent years in which a suspect was able to grab an officer's gun.

The deceased was not a student in the Clint Independent School District, Tovar said. At no time were any students involved in the incident, nor did any of it take place on school property, he added.

The incident started when a deputy was driving along Greg Road and noticed three people walking on the side of the road. He recognized one of them as having a felony warrant out for his arrest, Tovar said.

The officer detained them

and checked whether the warrant was still valid.

The suspect heard over the radio that there was a warrant for his arrest, and he took off running, Tovar said.

After the shooting, the other two individuals were detained for questioning.

An administrative investigation into the incident is being conducted, Tovar said. Such an investigation is standard procedure when a weapon is involved.

Real nice, looks like the officer's are truly looking out for the peoples real safety. Word has it that Obama just signed Martial Law bills into place. Better be ready.


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