Patrick Lynn Warren Sr., a 52-year-old Black man from Killeen, Texas, tragically died on January 10, 2021. He was shot and killed by Officer Reynaldo Contreras of the Killeen Police Department during a mental health call. Warren Sr. was unarmed at the time of the shooting. The incident began when Warren Sr.'s family called 911 for psychiatric help, but a mental health deputy was unavailable, so a police officer was dispatched instead.
The body camera footage released by the Killeen
Police Department showed Warren Sr. coming out of his house and approaching Officer Contreras while raising his hands. Contreras initially used a Taser, which proved ineffective, and then fired his gun three times as Warren Sr. continued to advance towards him. Warren Sr. was later transported to Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center, where he succumbed to his injuries.
Following the incident, the Warren family, represented by civil rights attorney Lee Merritt, called for the termination and arrest of Officer Contreras. They criticized the handling of the situation, arguing that a mental health professional should have been sent instead. Despite the family's demands and a thorough investigation by the Texas Rangers, the Bell County Grand Jury decided not to indict Officer Contreras.
The Warren family pursued federal charges, claiming that the investigation was flawed and that the officer did not follow proper protocol. They expressed frustration over the lack of transparency and involvement in the investigation process. The case drew national attention and highlighted issues surrounding police response to mental health crises.
In summary, Patrick Lynn Warren Sr.'s death was a tragic result of a police response to a mental health call, leading to significant public outcry and legal actions by his family.
