MESQUITE, TX – A 19-year-old man was fatally shot by a police officer during an investigation into a stolen vehicle in Mesquite, Texas, according to local authorities. The incident occurred early Thursday when the officer noticed a stolen vehicle being trailed by another car. Both vehicles subsequently pulled into a convenience store in the eastern suburb of Dallas.
The officer discovered the stolen vehicle abandoned at the gas pumps and noticed two men fleeing the scene. As he approached the second vehicle, which had four occupants, the driver refused to comply with the officer’s orders to shut off and cease movement of the vehicle.
During the course of the confrontation, the officer discharged his weapon three times, striking the driver, who was later identified as 19-year-old Payton Lawrence of Mesquite. The police report also mentioned that firearms were discovered inside the vehicle.
The other three occupants of the vehicle were questioned by the police. One of them, a 19-year-old from Dallas, was arrested due to outstanding warrants. The two individuals who fled the scene remain at large. As of early Friday, a police spokesperson had not responded to requests for comment.