The Dallas Police Department has released body camera footage and provided details regarding a fatal encounter involving a suspect and SWAT officers, which occurred on Friday morning. The suspect, identified as 26-year-old Matthew Leija, was shot and killed after allegedly pointing a handgun at the officers while they were serving a federal warrant in West Dallas.
During a news conference held on Monday, Chief Daniel Comeaux explained that the SWAT team was executing a narcotics search warrant in collaboration with the Lewisville Police Department and a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) task force. “Intelligence gathered during the investigation indicated a large quantity of narcotics was believed to be inside the residence,” Chief Comeaux stated.
As multiple SWAT teams began to clear the property, which included both a single-story home and a separate two-story structure, body camera footage captured the officers encountering two dogs. Following the deployment of two flashbang devices, the officers ascended to the upper level of the building. “Just as they announced police, the suspect, later identified as Matthew Leija, opened one of the doors with a firearm in his right hand and pointed it at officers. Officer Ellis Wells fired multiple shots from his rifle, striking the suspect,” Chief Comeaux noted.
Despite immediate lifesaving efforts by the officers, Leija was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities recovered several firearms and a significant amount of drugs, including methamphetamine, marijuana, and fentanyl, from the property. Additionally, DEA task force members interviewed several family members of Leija who were present in the home at the time of the incident.
Child Protective Services were called in to temporarily care for two children found in Leija’s residence, but they were later released to their mother. This incident marks the fourth officer-involved shooting for the Dallas Police Department this year.
Chief Comeaux emphasized the department’s desire to avoid such incidents, stating, “We never want to have an officer-involved shooting. It would be great if we have no more for the rest of the year. But the officers also have to protect everyone in Dallas and ensure that everyone’s safe.” Officer Wells, the only officer to discharge his weapon during the incident, has been placed on administrative leave, which is standard procedure following such events.
The Dallas County District Attorney’s Office and the Office of Community Police Oversight will carry out independent investigations into the shooting. The confrontation unfolded shortly after 10 a.m. on Friday as Dallas officers, in conjunction with the narcotics task force, were executing a federal warrant in the 1000 block of Shaw Street. Chief Comeaux reiterated the sequence of events: “As the SWAT team was making entry, an individual with a gun pointed a gun at the officers. Officers discharged their firearm, killing the suspect at that time. Officers immediately rendered aid, trying to help the suspect that was just shot. He ended up dying at the scene.” Fortunately, no officers sustained injuries during the incident.
