Man shot, killed by Justin officer after fleeing traffic stop and pointing gun, cops say
A 54-year-old man was shot and killed by a Justin police officer after the suspect ran from a traffic stop and pointed a gun at the officer on Sunday night, according to the Justin Police Department.
About 7:40 p.m., a patrolling officer saw a driver commit a traffic violation and tried to pull the car over, police said.
The driver pulled into the driveway of a house in the 100 block of Daisey Lane, got out of the car and ran into the house’s back yard with a firearm, police said in a news release.
An officer confronted the suspect, who did not comply with orders to drop the gun, police said.
The suspect raised the gun in “a threatening manner,” and the officer shot him, according to the statement.
The officer immediately began to provide medical care to the man, officials said. The suspect was taken to Medical City Denton hospital and later pronounced dead.
The Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the man who died as Eric Michael Watkins, 54, of Justin.
The officer has been placed on paid administrative leave and the Texas Department of Public Safety’s Rangers division will conduct an investigation of the fatal shooting, according to the release.
This story was originally published April 28, 2025 at 4:55 PM.
