Dashcam Shows Trooper Shooting a Man Who Came Out Of His Car With a Gun in His Hand

A newly released dashcam video captures the tense moments that led to a deadly police shooting during what began as a routine traffic stop in the 1990s. The incident occurred near the Harmony Hills subdivision, where a state highway patrol trooper pulled over a pickup truck for a seatbelt violation.

According to the report, the trooper approached the vehicle and informed the driver that he had been stopped for failing to wear a seatbelt. The trooper calmly explained that state law requires seatbelts to be worn regardless of road type or location, and requested the driver’s license, registration, and identification.

The interaction became tense when the trooper asked whether there was marijuana in the vehicle, to which the driver denied having any. The trooper then asked the man to step out of the vehicle. As the man exited, dashcam footage shows him suddenly reaching for a firearm.

At that moment, the situation escalated rapidly. The trooper can be heard shouting multiple times: “Drop the gun! Drop the gun!” as he retreated toward the rear of his patrol car. The man ignored the commands and continued holding the weapon, prompting the trooper to fire a single shot. The bullet struck the man in the upper chest.

Immediately after the shot was fired, the trooper called for emergency medical services over the radio and ran back toward the suspect to render aid. The dashcam records him performing CPR, pleading with the man to stay alive: “Come on, stay with me. Breathe, come on, come on!” Despite his efforts, the suspect eventually succumbed to the gunshot wound.

Backup units and EMS arrived shortly after the shooting. The trooper explained to his supervisors that the man had drawn a gun during a seatbelt stop and that he had no choice but to fire in self-defense. He stated that he first attempted to disarm the suspect inside the vehicle, then retreated when he was unable to gain control of the weapon.

“He grabbed the gun. I tried to take it from him but couldn’t. I ran to the back of the truck. He got out with the gun, and that’s when I fired,” the trooper said in the recording.

Investigators noted that only one shot was fired, and it came from the trooper’s service weapon. No shots were fired at the trooper.

The event has raised discussions about how quickly routine traffic stops can turn into life-threatening situations for law enforcement officers. Experts note that seatbelt stops are among the most common types of traffic enforcement, but they can be unpredictable because officers do not know who or what they might encounter inside the vehicle.

“This is a tragic example of how rapidly a simple traffic violation can escalate,” said a retired police training officer when reviewing the footage. “The trooper followed procedure by giving clear verbal commands and retreating to create distance before using deadly force. The video evidence will be crucial in determining whether the use of force was justified.”

The highway patrol has confirmed that a full investigation is underway, and the dashcam footage will be reviewed by internal affairs and state investigators. The trooper involved has been placed on administrative leave, which is standard procedure in officer-involved shootings.