Gunman Dies After Shootout With Irving Police

A man involved in a shootout with Irving police Wednesday died Thursday morning at an area hospital.

Uriel Juarez, 44, was injured in a shootout with police when, after leading officers on a chase, he hopped out of his vehicle and started shooting at officers with an AK-47, police said.

Officers, using AR-15 rifles, returned fire and struck Juarez several times.

“Loose bullets everywhere, police got out, started shooting, one officer got out, got his shot gun, bent down, shot him. He hit the floor, that’s when the ambulance got here, picked him up and they put him in there,” witness Jennifer Marie Matamoros told NBC 5 on Wednesday. “From what I saw, the gentleman tried to run, but didn’t get to escape, so that’s when the policemen started shooting at him.”

None of the officers were injured in the shootout.

Juarez was being pursued by officers following a domestic disturbance where he threatened to kill his entire family at their home on the 1300 block of Pioneer.

With the family being held at gunpoint, they managed to escape the house when Juarez, who is believed to have been drinking alcohol, went to the restroom, police said. The family then went to a nearby Walmart where they met with police. A short time later, officers spotted Juarez driving away from the home as they arrived.

Officers tried to get him to pull over, but he refused and led police on a chase. Juarez eventually pulled into a family member's residence on the 600 block of Balleywood, and that's where he exited the car with the assault rifle.

The officers involved in the shooting, whose names have not been released, are on paid administrative leave, which is standard procedure following an officer-involved shooting.