Fort Worth and Lake Worth police departments have released video showing the dramatic moments that officers dodged bullets and chased a suspect who had a history of violent offenses.
The incident ended with a standoff and the suspect shot dead after police say he fired at officers numerous times over the course of several hours on Thursday, Jan. 30.
Watch NBC 5 free wherever you are
WATCH HEREPolice-worn body camera footage, dashcam footage, 911 call audio and even witness cellphone video were released this week as the investigation into the incident continues.
According to Lake Worth Chief of Police JT Manoushagian, police officers with the department's Special Operations Unit stopped a driver for a moving violation at about 4:17 p.m. on Azle Avenue. The driver was identified as 35-year-old Nicholas Sides.
Get top local stories in DFW delivered to you every morning with NBC DFW's News Headlines newsletter.
SIGN UP Manoushagian said the officer had a feeling that something was off, based on Sides' behavior, and immediately called for back up.
"There was some kind of criminal activity afoot so she requested backup to come to her location. A decision and an intuition that proved correct because about five minutes later, Mr. Sides would attempt to kill her," he said.
After Sides fired shots, he sped away in his red pick up truck and attempted to flee from Lake Worth Officers. Video shows the truck narrowly missing other vehicles during the chase.
Manoushagian said Sides crashed into the backyard of a home near Sansom Park. Upon exiting his vehicle, Sides began to fire multiple shots at officers before they had a chance to stop their vehicles, police said.
Local
The latest news from around North Texas.
According to police, the officers attempted to de-escalate the situation and gave Sides multiple commands, which he ignored. He then got back into the vehicle with his gun pointed to his head and drove past officers.
Police said Sides continued driving into Fort Worth, where he stopped at his mother's house on the 1700 block of Skyline Drive.
Officials said Sides ran inside the home and took his mother hostage, refusing to come out. Lake Worth police then set up a perimeter and called Fort Worth to assist in negotiations.
Fort Worth police said their Crisis Intervention Team and SWAT officers were sent to the home to help negotiate the man's surrender.
During the standoff, the mother left the home unharmed. According to police, officers continued to negotiate and de-escalate the situation for several hours. At some point, Sides set off fireworks inside and outside the home, threatening to burn it down.
Police said Sides eventually exited the house with a gun to his head and refused to follow police commands. Fort Worth SWAT officers shot him with large plastic and foam-tipped rounds, considered less lethal, in an attempt to disarm him. However, Sides pointed his gun at officers and fired multiple shots at them. In response, an officer from Fort Worth SWAT fired his weapon once and struck Sides in the torso, police said.
Sides was taken to a hospital, where he later died. No officers from Lake Worth or Fort Worth were injured.
"I think it's only by the grace of God that no officers, civilians, or anybody was hurt. Everything about the situation could have allowed for something really tragic to happen. And the conversation that we could be having with you right now could be drastically different," said Manoushagian. "Any loss of life is sad, and we never want that. But all things considered, especially the fact that it was the suspect's own decision that led to that outcome. I can only thank God that it worked out the way that it did."
Fort Worth Chief of Police Neil Noakes said his officers responded how he expected them to after being targeted with gunfire.
"As you all know, we've had multiple incidents recently where our officers have been facing deadly threats, such as people shooting at them like we saw tonight, which forces them to make a decision to protect themselves, which is exactly what we trained them to do. It's what I expect them to do," Noakes said.
Manoushagian said Sides had a lengthy criminal history and was on federal probation for unlawful transportation of weapons. He also was on parole for serving a prison sentence for aggravated robbery.
During the pursuit, Lake Worth's Special Operations Unit officers reported seeing Sides throw items out of the vehicle but that those items had not been located. He also told 911 operators that he did not want to go back to prison, according to audio released by police.
"Our purpose as police is to protect the vulnerable from harm, and our job is to protect life, protect peace, and protect property—in that order," said Noakes. "The sad fact is, oftentimes, it's police officers who find themselves in physically vulnerable situations like this. And just like everyone else we serve, they have a right to protect their own lives."
Fort Worth police said the department's Major Case Unit is working with Internal Affairs on an investigation into the shooting. The Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office is also investigating.
The Lake Worth Police Department conducted a separate Standard Critical Incident Review. All of their involved officers were placed in a standard critical incident debrief and have since returned to work.
Per department policy, both Fort Worth Police officers were also placed on standard Significant Event Leave following the shooting but have also returned to work.
