The Lubbock Police Department provided limited new information on Monday night’s fatal officer-involved shooting in central Lubbock.
Barely 24 hours after swearing in as Lubbock’s newest police chief, Seth Herman gave a formal statement on the shooting.
Lubbock Police officers were called to the 4700 block of 66th Street at 10:53 p.m. on June 3, responding to reports of a civil disturbance. According to Herman, when the housing manager tried to get into the apartment, the man inside charged both the manager and officer with a knife.
The officer, who has not yet been named, responded with “lethal fire” at around 11:08 p.m., Herman said. The man shot was transported to University Medical Center but died of his injuries.
“This was a split-second decision, and there is no doubt the actions taken by the officers saved this third party's life,” Herman said. “I want to make that very clear. From the time the officer arrived until the time the shots were fired, only five minutes had passed, showcasing how quickly situations can escalate.”
According to Herman, the officer involved in the shooting has been with LPD for seven years. The officer has been placed on administrative leave “as per department policy and protocol.”
Herman said two investigations, one by the Lubbock Metropolitan Special Crimes Unit and another by LPD’s Office of Professional Standards, are currently underway.
“As always, our investigators will do their due diligence in conducting these investigations,” Herman said. “LPD recognizes the trust the citizens place in us and takes that very seriously when it comes to serving and protecting our citizens.”
According to Herman, the deceased man has not yet been officially identified as he is considered a suspect in this case, which has been categorized as an aggravated assault.
Further details from LPD were limited at the time of this report, pending the investigations.