A Fort Worth police officer shot and killed a driver in front of his three children after the man dragged the officer with his vehicle during a traffic stop Monday night.
Fort Worth police said a patrol officer shot and killed Charal Thomas, 32, when he sped up and refused to stop while dragging the officer, whose arm was trapped in the driver's side window.
An adult passenger and Thomas' three children, ages 7, 8 and 11, were also in the car but were not injured.
Friends and relatives of Thomas held a rally Tuesday afternoon at Eastland Park in protest of the shooting. They called for an investigation into the shooting, saying that the situation should not have escalated to gunfire.
"We're not talking about violence, we're not talking about trying to do something to retaliate against the law," said Rudolph Shakeed, a friend of Thomas. "We're trying to use the best redress about something that was unjustifiable."
Fort Worth police said the officer knew children were in the back seat but had to fire at Thomas because he wouldn't stop the car.
Police said Thomas was under surveillance by undercover narcotics officers when the patrol officer stopped him at a gas station off Loop 820 and Berry Street at about 7 p.m. The officer discovered Thomas had outstanding warrants and tried to arrest him, police said.
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The officer stuck his arm in the car to unlock it when Thomas refused to get out of the car, police said. Police said Thomas then rolled up the window, trapping the officer's arm inside, and began driving.
He dragged the officer for two blocks and sped up when the officer tried to get him to stop the vehicle, police said. Investigators said the officer then fired at Thomas at East Rosedale Street and Plaza Circle.
Thomas was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The officer was injured and transported to a local hospital.
Thomas has been arrested six times on drug-related charges.
NBC DFW's Omar Villafranca contributed to this report.
