WATCH: Arlington police release bodycam after officers fatally shoot armed man at motel
Arlington police officers shot and killed a man who assaulted a motel guest with a knife on Nov. 27, according to body-camera footage released by the Arlington Police Department on Monday, Dec. 16.
Prior to the shooting, police received two calls about the man, identified as 34-year-old Edgar Ayala Garcia, Arlington Police Chief Al Jones said.
The first call came in at 12:23 a.m. from a shopping center in the 900 block of North Collins Street, Jones said. That caller reported that a man was outside kicking trash cans and throwing items.
The second call came around 20 minutes later from a neighboring motel, where a guest reported that an unknown man was banging on doors and causing a disturbance, Jones said.
Police later determined through surveillance video that Garcia was the man referenced in both calls, Jones said.
Ayala Garcia attempted to enter the motel by smashing a window with a brick or rock, but was unsuccessful and went to another door, according to surveillance video released by police on Monday.
A motel guest let the man into the building at the second door, according to the footage. Police determined that that guest did not know Ayala Garcia, Jones said.
The man made his way to the third floor of the motel, where security cameras captured him kicking multiple guestroom doors, Jones said.
Another motel guest opened his door to investigate, at which point Ayala Garcia forced his way into the room and pulled a knife, according to the security footage.
That guest also did not know Ayala Garcia, Jones said.
When officers arrived on the third floor of the motel, they could hear the guest screaming for help from inside the room, according to the bodycam footage.
Officers identified themselves as police and attempted to kick in the door, which was then opened by the motel guest, Jones said.
Ayala Garcia is seen holding a knife and telling officers that he had a hostage and to shoot him, Jones said.
Both officers fired their service weapons multiple times, striking Ayala Garcia, according to the footage.
The motel guest escaped and was taken to a local hospital to be treated for cuts on his hands and arms, Jones said.
Officers provided aid to Ayala Garcia until paramedics arrived to transport him to the hospital, where he was later pronounced dead, Jones said.
It has not been determined whether Ayala Garcia was under the influence of drugs or experiencing a mental health crisis, Jones said.
Both officers involved in the shooting were placed on administrative leave, but have since returned to regular duty, Jones said.
