A man shot and injured this past week by Gladewater police was fired on after he ran toward a patrol unit, reached one hand into his waistband and "came out like he had a gun," according to the department's chief.
Gladewater Police Chief Robert Vine said in a written statement Tuesday that after Officer Jacobo Lira responded Sunday, he saw Matthew Blaine Murchison, 29, of Gilmer walk then run toward his patrol unit and then pull the front of his shirt upward before reaching into his waistband, with an unknown, dark-colored object in his other hand.
Lira was also in an officer-involved shooting in January in which a man who pointed a rifle was shot and injured. Lira and another officer were no-billed in that shooting. Sunday's shooting also comes about two years after Gladewater officer Robert Carlsen shot and killed Patrick Wise, 34, during a confrontation Nov. 5, 2016. A Gregg County grand jury in April 2017 declined to bring charges against Carlsen.
Officers responded about 4:30 p.m. Sunday to the 1500 block of North Main Street, according to Vine. Upon arrival, officers were told he ran away from the home. While looking for the suspect in his patrol unit, Lira saw Murchison walking toward him on Florence Street.
After Murchison ran toward the vehicle and reached into his waistband, Vine said Lira exited the patrol vehicle and told Murchison to show his hands before Lira fired his service weapon four times, striking Murchison in the leg.
Vine said video from the body camera worn by Lira on Sunday shows Murchison with his hand moving in a manner consistent with reaching for a possible weapon. He also said the footage shows Murchison with his hand extended toward the officer as if holding a pistol before shots from Lira's firearm are heard on the video.
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