Mark Minnick, a 51-year-old white male from Azle, Texas, died on March 6, 2016, following a confrontation with the police. On the evening of his death, officers from the Azle Police Department responded to a report of a man firing a gun in the 600 block of Alameda Road. Upon arrival, the first officer encountered Minnick, who was armed with a handgun. Despite being ordered to drop his weapon, Minnick advanced toward the officer and pointed the gun at him.
The officer, identified as 26-year-old Angel Perez, discharged his firearm, striking Minnick multiple times in the torso. Minnick was transported by helicopter to John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth, where he was pronounced dead shortly after 9:30 p.m.
The incident prompted an investigation by the Texas Rangers and the Azle Police Department. Officer Perez was placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. Witnesses at the scene reported that Minnick had a history of firing his gun, often at hallucinations, and had expressed suicidal thoughts prior to the police's arrival. Neighbors stated that the officer had no choice but to open fire on Minnick, as he posed an immediate threat to the officer's safety.
The Tarrant County Medical Examiner's Office was notified of Minnick's death, and the investigation into the shooting was conducted by both the Texas Rangers and the Azle Police Department. The case was further scrutinized to determine whether the use of deadly force was justified. The investigation revealed that Minnick had a history of mental health issues, which may have contributed to his behavior on the night of the incident. The officer involved, Angel Perez, had been with the Azle Police Department since December 2014 and was assigned to Patrol Operations at the time of the shooting.
In summary, Mark Minnick's death was the result of a police-involved shooting during a disturbance in Azle, Texas. The incident was thoroughly investigated by multiple agencies to ensure that the use of force was appropriate and justified given the circumstances.
