AMARILLO, TEXAS -- A man who refused to drop his gun after an altercation was shot and killed by Amarillo Police late Wednesday night.
The man, 56-year-old Jerry Etheredge, let the air out of his estranged wife's tires, she reported to police. It all happened in the Family Dollar Store parking lot in the 400 block of South Western.
She was with a 32-year-old male companion, police said. After seeing Etheredge drive by them on Western, she called 911. Etheredge reportedly pulled into the same parking lot, drove away, came back and parked behind the woman's vehicle.
That's when Etheredge confronted the male companion with a gun. The woman then told the 911 call taker that shots had been fired.
Police were cleared to respond code three with lights and sirens. Upon arrival, the men were wrestling on the ground and fighting over the gun. Etheredge, according to police, was ordered by an officer to drop the gun.
The male companion was able to break away from Etheredge and officers continued to order him to drop the gun, police said.
According to Police, Etheredge refused to drop the gun and then rolled toward the Officer. The officer then fired his weapon several times striking Etheredge.
Etheredge was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. An autopsy has been ordered on Etheredge.
The officer who shot Etheredge has been placed on three days administrative leave, per department policy.
An investigation into this incident by Special Crimes continues.
Pronews 7 has obtained audio of the scanner traffic of the incident, courtesy of WebbFeatProductions.com. Click here to listen.
