Fort Worth police say mental health call week prior preceded fatal officer shooting (2025)

The family of a man killed by Fort Worth police officers said he was experiencing a mental breakdown prior to being shot by officers.

Fort Worth police on Friday held a news conference where the department released body camera footage and 911 audio from an officer-involved shooting on Jan. 15. In that incident, police said Brandon Zachary Adame, 28, was fatally shot after charging at officers with two knives.

Advertisement

Fort Worth police shoot, kill man who charged officers with knife

Advertisement

Police initially said officers were called at about 4:20 a.m. to a domestic disturbance in the 5800 block of Westgate Drive. In the 911 audio released by the department, the caller can be heard begging a man not to hit her anymore, while the man threatens to kill the caller.

Crime in The News

Read the crime and public safety news your neighbors are talking about.

In the video released by the department, officers can be seen arriving at the residence. The caller opens the front door but is unable to open a screen door.

Police initially said officers saw a man in the home holding a knife and acting aggressively toward others. In the video, officers can be seen attempting to speak with the man and a knife can be seen piercing the screen door.

Advertisement

Two officers then move to the back of the home and try to break down the back door as one officer stays in the front and continues to try and speak with the man. As officers breach the back door, the man can be seen running at officers while holding two knives.

Two officers shoot, and the man falls to the ground. A woman then comes outside screaming and calling the man’s name.

Fort Worth police Chief Neil Noakes said Adame was pronounced dead at the scene, despite life-saving measures taken by officers and other first responders. Noakes said the 911 caller was Adame’s mother.

Advertisement

Noakes also said officers had been called the week prior to the home on reports of a mental health crisis. Noakes said Adame was able to get help during that call, but that during this call, the situation turned violent.

Advertisement

“They were presented with a choice,” Noakes said. “They chose to protect themselves, which is what I expect them to do.”

Bryan Adame, Brandon’s cousin, started a GoFundMe to help raise money for funeral expenses. Bryan Adame said his cousin struggled with mental illness, including bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, and that night was not the first time officers had been called to his aunt’s home.

Noakes said Fort Worth officers are trained in crisis intervention. He said the department does have crisis negotiators and mental health professionals who often respond to calls like this, but they were not able to make it to this call.

Bryan Adame said the situation has been incredibly traumatic for his aunt, who he said has barely been eating or drinking since the fatal shooting. Bryan Adame described his cousin as a kid who never really grew up, who loved playing video games.

“Brandon was her whole world,” Bryan Adame said.

Police said the incident is still under investigation. No officers or other civilians were injured. Per department policy, the officers who fired their weapons have been placed on leave.

Apartment police shooting standoff

Fort Worth police on Friday also released body camera footage and 911 call audio from a second unrelated officer-involved shooting on Jan. 15.

Advertisement

Multiple 911 callers had reported just before noon that an armed man was threatening them at an apartment complex in the 8500 block of John T. White Road. In the footage, an officer can be seen drawing her service weapon and confronting the man, who had a gun in his waistband, police said.

Fort Worth police investigating 2nd officer-involved shooting on Wednesday

The officer orders him to get on the ground. The man does not comply and begins walking away near an occupied car. The officer opened fire after police said the man appeared to reach for the gun in his waistband and turn toward the officer.

Police initially said the shooting happened during a foot chase, but the video shows the chase happening after the shooting. The man was not struck by the shots. He walked away and then began running, with the officer chasing him and pulling out her taser.

Advertisement

The man barricaded himself in his apartment and was taken into custody after about 40 minutes. He was identified as Deron Morris, 42. No injuries were reported, police said.

Morris was booked into the Tarrant County jail. He faces fives charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and one charge of aggravated assault against a public servant. He is being held on $100,000 bail.

Morris' attorney was not immediately available for comment Friday.

Police said the incident is still under investigation. The officer who fired her weapon was placed on leave following the shooting, but has since returned to work, police said.

Advertisement

Related Stories

View More

    Letters to the Editor — Health care in Texas, birthright citizenship, Jerry Jones

    1 arrested in far northeast Dallas shooting that left 1 dead, 1 injured, police say

    Man accused of killing Cash Gernon in 2021 found competent to stand trial

By Matt Kyle

Matt is a breaking news reporter. A graduate of Baylor University, he grew up in San Antonio and lived in Waco before coming to Dallas. Previously, Matt has written for the Baylor Lariat and the Waco Tribune-Herald.

Connect:

Fort Worth police say mental health call week prior preceded fatal officer shooting (2025)

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Fredrick Kertzmann

Last Updated:

Views: 6277

Rating: 4.6 / 5 (46 voted)

Reviews: 93% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Fredrick Kertzmann

Birthday: 2000-04-29

Address: Apt. 203 613 Huels Gateway, Ralphtown, LA 40204

Phone: +2135150832870

Job: Regional Design Producer

Hobby: Nordic skating, Lacemaking, Mountain biking, Rowing, Gardening, Water sports, role-playing games

Introduction: My name is Fredrick Kertzmann, I am a gleaming, encouraging, inexpensive, thankful, tender, quaint, precious person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.