ARLINGTON (WBAP/KLIF News ) – Arlington police released body camera video this week of three officers’ confrontation with a man who told dispatchers he wanted to be killed.
The move comes after officers fatally shot 23-year-old Patricio Gamboa outside his home in the 2500 block of Fallcreek Street on November 19.
The video shows an officer trying to negotiate with Gamboa via phone.
He’s heard telling Gamboa ” I need you to the drop the rife so that we can talk to you,” he yelled. “Let us help you.”
That negotiating officer than called for other police with non-lethal weapons to move closer.
Chief Al Jones said officers were dealing to a man who was armed and suicidal. He added that Gamboa ignored commands to drop his shotgun.
“If this gentlemen is walking toward us with his shotgun, that’s not a time for us to use less lethal force. Now if he would have put his weapon down maybe that would have been another opportunity for us. We were in the middle of a dangerous situation. Unfortunately, he just didn’t want to comply,” he said.
The video shows Gamboa raise his gun towards the officers. The three officers opened fire, fatally wounding Gamboa.
The Arlington Police Department’s Internal Affairs Division is investigating.
The three unidentified officers are on administrative duty.
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