Body camera video shows a man shot by Arlington police on Oct. 7 before officers opened fire

The man killed by Arlington police on Oct. 7 pulled out a gun, pointed it at officers and fired at least once before they shot him, Police Chief Al Jones said at a news conference Thursday.

The man was identified as 34-year-old Tony Coward. He was shot by officers who then attempted to administer life-saving first aid until paramedics arrived. Coward later died in hospital.

Officers responded to reports of a suspicious person at an apartment complex in the 1400 block of East Lamar Boulevard, north of Interstate 30 near North Collins Street.

According to police, 911 callers said they saw a man walking around the apartment complex’s parking lot and looking into several cars.

The call came in around 9 p.m. on Oct. 7 and officers arrived about 10 minutes later. They began searching the parking lot and eventually found Coward lying on top of a car.

Body camera footage released Thursday shows officers approaching the man in a dark parking lot, with flashlights providing the only illumination. He stands on the hood of a car as officers approach. The officers pretend to be police officers and ask Coward what is going on.

In the body camera video, Coward does not immediately respond to the officers. One of them says a curse word, apparently sees the gun in Coward’s pants, and turns off his light. He then steps behind another vehicle, draws his weapon and warns a colleague.

“Police, hands up,” the officer shouts.

This time Coward answers and sits up. He looks at the officers who continue to order him to raise his hands. As he pulls the gun from his pants, both officers appear to fire about seven or eight shots. Coward falls to the ground and the officers stop shooting, then the published portion of the video ends.

Jones said at the news conference that Coward did not live in the apartments but had family who lived there. Jones said he believes that’s why Coward is in the area.

Jones said Coward had a history of run-ins with police.

The police chief said Coward was charged with theft, trespassing and public drunkenness. Court records show he has been convicted of, among other things, evading arrest, burglary of a dwelling, carrying a weapon without permission, failing to identify a fugitive and intentionally providing false information.

None of the officers were injured. Both were placed on administrative leave following the shooting, per department policy. Criminal and administrative investigations are ongoing. Once the investigation is complete, authorities will refer the case to a grand jury regardless of the results, a common practice in the department.