The Texas Rangers are investigating after a man was killed in an officer-involved shooting in Temple Monday night. The Southwest Institute of Forensic Sciences has cleared the death of Michael Dean a homicide by gunshot wound to the head.
According to Temple PD, around 8:15 p.m. on Monday, December 2, 28-year-old Michael Dean was shot and killed by an officer with the Temple Police Department.
The shooting happened at SE H K Dodgen Loop and Little River Road.
The shooting is now under investigation by the Texas Rangers.
The Rangers will be leading the investigation, with assistance from Temple Police Department's Criminal Investigation Division and the Bell County District Attorney's Office.
Temple police is also conducting its own internal investigation of the shooting.
UPDATE: Officer involved shooting which took place on Monday is now under the investigation of Texas Rangers along with Bell County DA and TPD.
— Temple Police Dept (@TempleTXPolice) December 3, 2019
Confirmed one fatality, 28-year-old Michael Dean. No other injuries were reported.
No further info will be released at this time. pic.twitter.com/zCjLN16Uhb
On Tuesday, December 10, TPD identified the officer involved as 51-year-old Carmen DeCruz. He has been with the department for 9 years.
Officer DeCruz was placed on administrative leave, pending the outcome of the investigation. The leave is standard practice in all police shootings, says the department.
Decruz was not injured in the shooting.
Family seeking answers
Dean's said he was out getting things ready for his daughter's birthday party Monday night, but they weren't able to get ahold of him for hours. That's when police knocked on the door with bad news, and no answers.
The Dean's family attorney, Lee Merritt, Esq. told 25 News officials aren't releasing any information to his team or providing the Dean family with necessary answers.
"[Dean] was shot in the head, and there's been no narrative. There been no transparency, and that's been something that's been extremely frustrating for this family" said Merritt.
He explained in officer-involved shooting cases, eye witnesses are extremely important, and several have been aiding him in the collection of evidence.
Merritt said one of his witnesses claims to have heard the officer he is going to lose his job.
"You'll have to excuse my language but, "I f--ed up. I'm going to loose my job,"" Merritt told 25 News the witness claims Officer DeCruz said. "That is exactly what Amber Guyger said during her 911 call, like you said, almost verbatim," Merritt continued.
Merritt explained the unanswered questions still remaining are many.
