ORANGE, Texas — A 32-year-old Bridge City man died Tuesday morning in a barrage of bullets after pointing a semi-automatic rifle at officers following a high-speed chase that ended in Orange.
Jeremy Culp, 32, of Bridge City, led police on a high-speed chase Tuesday morning from Bridge City to Orange before wrecking his pickup truck at 15th St. and Green Ave., Sgt. Shana Clark of the Texas Department of Public Safety said. His name was released by DPS on Wednesday, the day after the fatal shooting.
He then got out of the truck with a 9mm semi-automatic rifle and was told by officers to put the gun down and lay on the ground, Sgt. Clark said during a Tuesday afternoon news conference near the scene.
He obeyed, but as officers approached, he picked up the rifle and pointed it at them while prone on the ground.
The officers immediately opened fire, mortally wounding him. The man was given immediate first aid, but he was pronounced dead at the scene Clark said.
Everything began just before 9 a.m. in Bridge City when police were notified about shots being fired at multiple homes in the city, Clark explained.
Bridge City Police were told that a white pickup truck had fled the scene of the shots fired calls.
Not long after, a white Dodge Ram pickup struck a motorcycle cop helping escort a heavy load in the eastbound lanes of Texas Highway 87, Clark said.
"Struck a motorcycle officer as he and other officers were escorting a wide load," said Clark.
Watch the full news conference with DPS
The heavy haul was associated with Golden Triangle Polymers, who later canceled the road closures associated with it. They released a statement, saying in part, "We commend the courage and bravery exhibited by the police officers."
A Chambers County Precinct Six Constable's deputy suffered a broken leg when he was struck on the Cow Bayou Bridge according to county public information officer, Samantha Humphrey. The deputy will recover, Humphrey said.
After the deputy was struck, police and deputies began chasing him east along Texas Highway 87 at high speed toward Orange.
When he got into Orange, he wrecked the truck into a utility pole at 15th and Green.
Police chase ends in Orange with fatal shootout
Neighbors living near the scene witnessed it all unfold.
"I just dropped my grandkids off from school... and drop them off and getting ready to go back in the house and I [saw] a high-speed chase," said Bobby, a grandparent who did want to be identified.
The chase ended right in front of West Orange-Stark Middle School.
"I saw them speed by. I saw the dude have a flat and then I saw nothing but smoke, out of his butt end of his truck," said Jennifer Looney.
Bobby says he can't believe this all happened in front of his grandkids' campus.
"This the first time I've seen something happen like this since I've been living here. I've never seen nothing like this. And real [terrorizing] in front of the school house," said Bobby.
One neighbor says he's lucky the bullet that went through his window didn't hit anyone inside.
"I was in the backyard, I heard a shot then two seconds later I heard another shot came to the end of the driveway and heard pow pow pow pow," said Raymond Wise.
Wise lives on North Inwood Drive, less than 400 feet away from the home on Oak Circle Street where the incident began. He found a bullet that went through his neighbors fence and into his window, just feet away from his roommate who was working from home.
"She was sitting here when it happened. She said she heard it, but didn't think anything of it," said Wise.
Watch the team coverage following how the incident played out
A live video streamed to Facebook by a man from Orange captured the fatal shooting.
In the video several officers with their guns drawn can be seen approaching the man as he lay prone on the ground about 20 feet from the wrecked pickup.
As police approach the man, he can be seen lifting his head up and moving before officers begin to fire.
"The suspect laid the weapon down and began to lay prone. And as officers began to approach. The suspect picked up the gun and pointed it at the officers. Officers engaged, and the suspect was shot. Life-saving measures were attempted, and the suspect was pronounced deceased," Clark said.
The volley of gunfire last only about seven seconds but in the video more than 25 shots can be heard.
One officer appeared, in the video, to be to be limping and checking his right leg.
Sgt. Clark confirmed that one officer did suffer minor injuries, but they are still unsure if he was hit by a bullet or shrapnel. His injury is not life-threatening she said.
"We're still trying to determine if it was shrapnel, or if it was an actual bullet that struck him," Clark said.
As the investigation continues, Wise wishes the best for the family for the man who was killed, despite almost being shot themselves.
"Prayers go out to the mom and dad. I wish them all the best. I just hope that doesn't happen around here anymore," he said.
The Texas Rangers are investigating the officers' use of fatal force. They haven't released the names of the officers involved or the name of the man was killed.
This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information.