Fort Worth Police Unknowingly Shoot at Business Owner During Burglary Call

Incident Overview

• 🚨 Fort Worth Police responded to an active burglary call at a restaurant on Terminal Road.
• 💡 The business owner, Jose Jaime Contreras, had called his alarm company after a suspect entered his storage unit.
• 🏢 Contreras went to the location himself, unaware that police were already on the scene.

The Encounter and Misunderstanding

• 📹 Body cam footage shows officers encountering Contreras, who was holding a gun.
• ⚠️ Police commands included "Show me your hands" and "Drop the gun" before an officer fired a shot.
• 🎯 The shot missed Contreras, who stated he was scared and did not know who he was encountering.
• 🗣️ The transcript indicates police did not identify themselves as officers during the initial encounter.

Expert and Owner Perspectives

• 👨‍🏫 Criminologist Dr. Alex Del Carman noted that while police gave proper commands before firing, they should have identified themselves.
• ⚠️ Del Carman also highlighted the dangerous situation and the owner's need to inform dispatchers of his presence.
• 🙏 Contreras expressed gratitude that the officer missed and that he was not injured.

Investigation and Aftermath

• 🔍 Fort Worth Police are still searching for the burglary suspect.
• ✅ The two officers involved in the shooting incident have been cleared to return to work.