Denton, Texas — The Denton Police Department released body camera footage from the Jan. 21 officer-involved shooting that claimed the life of University of North Texas student Darius Tarver. At approximately 2:58 a.m., officers were dispatched to the 200 block of Inman St. in reference to a disturbance. Multiple 911 callers reported there was a man banging on numerous doors and yelling for someone to open the door. The callers further stated that the suspect had a frying pan in his hand, and that he was shattering all of the light fixtures in the hallway.
As officers arrived on scene, they attempted to locate the suspect. While officers were standing at the base of the main staircase, another officer was obtaining information from a caller. It was during this time that the suspect emerged from an apartment and immediately began advancing down the stairs toward the officers. Officers observed that the suspect had a cleaver and a frying pan in his hands, and gave him multiple loud verbal commands to drop the weapons. The suspect continued to advance on officers, at which time an officer deployed his Taser. The Taser struck the suspect, who fell, but immediately got up and began advancing toward the officers again.
An officer discharged his weapon and struck the suspect, who fell to the ground. Officers on scene immediately began life saving measures, and called for Denton Fire/Rescue. It was during this time, that another officer was found to have been stabbed by the suspect. The suspect and the injured officer were transported to a local hospital, where the suspect was pronounced deceased and the injured officer was admitted in stable condition. The officer’s injuries are non-life threatening. The injured officer is new to Denton but has over ten years of previous law enforcement experience, and the officer who discharged his weapon has six years of service with the Denton Police Department. All four officers have returned to regular duty with the department.
