Crime
26-year-old Arthur Armstrong Jr shot and killed by police in DeSoto, Texas
On December 13, 2024, at approximately 10:39 a.m., the DeSoto Police Department received a 911 hang-up call from a residence in the 1000 block of Hunter’s Creek Drive.
Upon reestablishing contact, the caller, identified as 26-year-old Arthur Lee Armstrong, Jr., informed dispatchers that he was armed with “several” weapons and intended to harm police officers.
A second caller later confirmed that Armstrong was at the residence with multiple other occupants and armed with a knife.
DeSoto patrol officers promptly responded to the scene.
Upon their arrival, Armstrong confronted them in the front yard, wielding a knife in each hand. Ignoring repeated commands to stop and drop his weapons, Armstrong advanced aggressively toward the officers.
As Armstrong continued closing the distance, one officer discharged a single round from a patrol rifle, striking Armstrong in the chest.
Officers quickly disarmed Armstrong and initiated life-saving measures on the scene. Armstrong was then transported to Central Methodist Hospital by DeSoto EMS, where he was pronounced deceased upon arrival.
The DeSoto Police Department requested that the Grand Prairie Police Department’s Major Crimes Unit conduct an independent investigation into the incident. Additionally, the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office Public Integrity Unit dispatched an investigator to provide an independent review of the matter.
In accordance with department policy, the officer who discharged the weapon has been placed on paid administrative leave while these investigations are underway.
The DeSoto Police Department recognizes the significant impact this incident has on the community, as well as the individuals and families involved. A comprehensive investigation is being conducted to determine the circumstances surrounding the event, and the department is committed to maintaining transparency throughout the process.
To provide further details, a press conference is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on Monday, December 16, 2024, at the DeSoto Police Department headquarters. Community members and media are encouraged to attend for updates on the investigation.
Authorities have confirmed that the deadly shooting at Brown University occurred inside a first-floor classroom within the Barus and Holley Engineering Building. Investigators believe all 11 victims were students.
Two individuals were pronounced dead, while the remaining victims were transported to area hospitals.
One additional victim was later confirmed to have sustained injuries from bullet fragments and is expected to make a full recovery.
According to Providence Police, the suspect fled the building immediately after the shooting, exiting onto Hope Street and then moving toward the Waterman Street area.
More than six hours after the incident, the suspect remains at large.
Officials stated that there is no interior surveillance footage of the shooter inside the Barus and Holley building.
Authorities have also been unable to determine how the suspect initially entered the building or precisely where he went after fleeing the scene.
Police described the suspect as a male, possibly in his 30s, dressed in black.
Investigators are also reviewing video evidence that may show the suspect wearing a camouflage-style face covering, though that detail has not yet been fully confirmed.
The incident unfolded shortly after 4:20 p.m., when Brown University issued an emergency alert warning of an active shooter near the Barus and Holley Engineering Building.
Students, faculty, staff, and nearby residents were instructed to shelter in place, lock doors, silence mobile devices, and remain hidden.
The alert emphasized standard emergency guidance: evacuate only if it was safe to do so, hide if evacuation was not possible, and take defensive action only as a last resort.
At approximately 5:27 p.m., the university issued a follow-up alert reporting additional shots fired near Governor Street, about two blocks from the original scene.
Minutes later, the Providence Police Department confirmed that multiple people had been shot in the area surrounding the campus.
During an evening news conference, Providence Deputy Police Chief Tim O’Hara said investigators believe a firearm was used in the attack, though no weapon has been recovered and the type of firearm remains unknown.
Police confirmed there was no direct interaction between officers and the suspect, who fled on foot before law enforcement arrived.
Authorities also addressed reports of a separate police confrontation involving gunfire several blocks away.
Officials clarified that while that incident initially led to reports of a suspect being detained, investigators have not established a confirmed connection between that encounter and the Brown University shooting.
Providence Mayor Brett Smiley confirmed that no suspect is currently in custody and emphasized that Brown University officials, the Providence Police Department, and the FBI are working in close coordination to locate the individual responsible.
The Barus and Holley Engineering Building, constructed in 1965, houses classrooms, laboratories, offices, and lecture halls for the university’s engineering and physics departments and was occupied at the time due to scheduled exams.
As of the latest update, the shelter-in-place order remains in effect.
Authorities continue to urge the public to avoid the area while the investigation remains ongoing.
Officials have not released identifying information about the victims, citing respect for the families and the active nature of the investigation.