An Arlington Police officer fatally shot a man during a traffic stop along Interstate 20 Thursday afternoon.
During a news conference, Sgt. Courtney White with the Arlington Police Department said a motorcycle officer on traffic duty pulled over a man seen driving erratically and that during a conversation with the driver, the officer asked the man to turn off his vehicle.
White said the man refused to turn off his vehicle and exit the vehicle. That's when the officer noticed the man was holding a weapon. White said the officer repeatedly ordered the man to put down the firearm and that when he didn't the officer fired his gun several times, striking the man at least once.
The driver, who was alone in his car, was taken to a nearby hospital where he later died.
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"Due to the driver's actions, our officer fired his weapon several times striking the driver. The driver was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased," White said.
The driver has been identified as 49-year-old Sean McKay.
It's not immediately clear if the driver fired his weapon and White did not say what kind of firearm the man was holding. The officer was not injured.
White cautioned that the information released by police Thursday afternoon was preliminary and could change. White did not say if the officer was wearing a body camera and no video of the incident was released.
NBC 5 crews sent to the scene spotted a black Cadillac sedan stopped on the shoulder between Park Springs and Green Oaks boulevards. The vehicle had shattered windows and a shoe was nearby on the ground. A police motorcycle was stopped near the vehicle.
White said multiple investigations are now underway, including an internal investigation to determine if the officer followed department policy and a separate investigation by the homicide detectives who will investigate the shooting.
The officer's name is not being released at this time. The officer is on routine administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigations.
The incident reportedly took place at about 1:45 p.m. and shut down traffic on the interstate for more than an hour as police investigated. After diverting drivers off the highway at Park Springs Boulevard for more than an hour, two lanes of westbound I-20 were reopened at about 3 p.m. Though traffic was moving during rush hour, drivers were encouraged to use caution in the area.
ARLINGTON POLICE SHOOTING
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