Fort Worth

Man Uses Child as Shield, Killed by Fort Worth SWAT

Gunman shot Fort Worth SWAT identified Friday; shooter died of gunshot wound to the head

A man is dead after using a child as a shield while shooting at police from a Fort Worth apartment Thursday.

The Tarrant County Medical Examiner identified the man Friday as 19-year-old Markeyvion Devonte Cannon, who NBC 5 has learned had a lengthy criminal history and was wanted on several outstanding warrants.

The incident began Thursday when Fort Worth police said a woman called 911 at about 11:50 a.m. and whispered to dispatchers that there was a man with a gun inside a residence at the 2900 Broadmoor apartments and that there were people inside being held hostage, including children.

As officers arrived they took fire from a third-floor apartment. Wearing body armor, helmets and shields, officers went to the third floor and confronted the man who was using a child as a shield.

Cannon, then, police said, raised a weapon and fired at police, hitting an officer's shield.

"Because the suspect was using a child as a shield officers could not return fire at that time and they backed away," said interim Chief of Police Ed Kraus.

As dozens of officers, including SWAT, surrounded the building, Cannon continued to fire on officers from the third floor, police said.

SWAT officers then went upstairs, heard more gunfire and decided to forcefully enter the residence.

"They breached the door and encountered the suspect still holding a weapon in close proximity to the children -- at least one shot was fired by our SWAT officers and the suspect was hit," Kraus said.

Cannon was then carried downstairs by police and placed on a gurney where he was transported to an area hospital where he later died.  The Tarrant County ME listed his cause of death as a gunshot wound to the head.

None of the hostages or police were injured, police said in a tweet.

It is not yet known what the relationships were between the people in the apartment or what led to outbreak of violence Thursday. However, NBC 5 learned Friday Cannon had a lengthy criminal history including numerous charges of assault, continuous violence against family, evading arrest, theft of a firearm and violating a protective order. At the time of the shooting Thursday, Cannon was wanted by police for active warrants for continued violence against family members, violation of a protective order and possessing a prohibited substance in a correction facility.

The Fort Worth Police Department's Major Case Unit is investigating the shooting.

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