One Dead After Chase, Shooting in Mesquite

Man killed after ramming police cruiser

Police are investigating a high-speed chase that started in Garland and ended with one man dead in Mesquite on Friday morning.

At about 1 a.m., Garland police tried to pull over 25-year-old Michael Vincent Allen, of Wylie, who was wanted for eluding Sachse police a few days ago, Garland police spokesman Joe Harn said.

Allen refused to stop his truck and led police on a 30-minute high-speed chase with speeds reaching 100 mph.

The chase started near First and Avenue B, ending in a Mesquite subdivision when Allen turned down a cul-de-sac and was cornered on the 3000 block of Monarch. According to police, Allen then tried to smash his way out by using his truck as a deadly weapon.  When Allen rammed his truck into a police car, an officer opened fire and fatally shot him.

"Why did he run?" Harn said. "When we turn on our red lights, you're supposed to stop. If an officer feels threatened and somebody else is threatened , they are justified in using lethal force."

Pedro Faz lives in the area and is now fixing a window after a bullet passed through it and ended up in the family's dining room.

"We heard about 10 gunshots.  It was bad.  I hope it's justified," said Faz. "Thank God we're still alive."

Police questioned a 20-year-old woman who was in the vehicle at the time. Neither she or the officers were injured.

Becky Jackson, who knew Allen and lived across the street from him, said there could have been a different option.

"I definitely think they went too far -- going to a point that they have to shoot someone multiple times; yes, that's going too far," she said. "It's just very hurtful that something like that would even happen."

The officer, whose name has not yet been released, will be placed on administrative leave during a review of the shooting.

NBC 5's Tammy Mutasa contributed to this report.

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