IRVING (1080 KRLD) - An Irving police officer shot and killed a suspect the department says fired several gunshots through the front windows of a 7/Eleven Thursday morning.
Irving Police were responding to call about gunfire at the store near Pioneer Dr. and Nursery Rd. about 1:15 a.m.
The store is normally open 24/7, but police say the owner of the location had cut back hours because of the coronavirus, COVID-19.
"I think they just reduced their hours of operation due to the lack of customers from midnight to early morning," says Irving Police Officer Robert Reeves.
Reeves says the suspect fired several gunshots through the front windows. He says someone was working inside and called 911.
"It is very unusual, if someone was going to break into a location, a lot of times, you'll see them just use a rock to break out a window," Reeves says. "Not very often, do you see someone shoot out the window to go inside to steal items out of a 7/Eleven."
He says the suspect refused to drop his gun; one officer fired, killing the suspect. That officer is now on leave and will undergo a psychiatric evaluation. The department will review the case.
"To take someone else's life is a very big thing," Reeves says. "We all hope that never happens in our career. When it does happen, it definitely impacts you for the rest of your life."
No other officers nor the employee was hurt.
