Officer shoots, kills suspect in altercation

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Man not identified; officer placed on administrative leave

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  • Several law enforcement agencies responded to the 3600 block of Jacksboro Ave. following the fatal shooting of a suspect by a Snyder Police Department officer shortly after 6:30 p.m. Thursday. The officer has been placed on administrative leave pending the results of an investigation by the Texas Rangers.
    Several law enforcement agencies responded to the 3600 block of Jacksboro Ave. following the fatal shooting of a suspect by a Snyder Police Department officer shortly after 6:30 p.m. Thursday. The officer has been placed on administrative leave pending the results of an investigation by the Texas Rangers.
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A man was shot to death by a Snyder Police Department officer following an altercation in west central Snyder Thursday evening.
Police officers were called to the 3600 block of Jacksboro Ave. shortly after 6:30 p.m. Thursday in reference to a suspicious person call. When Officer Whitney Merket arrived at the scene, she made contact with a male subject and an altercation began, according to information provided by the police department.
“During the altercation, the officer fired her weapon and the suspect was shot,” a police department news release stated. “(He) was later pronounced dead by Justice of the Peace Norma Martinez.”
Numerous first responders, including personnel from the Snyder Police Department, Scurry County Sheriff’s Office, Texas Department of Public Safety, Snyder Fire Department and Scurry County EMS, responded to the incident and the street was closed to traffic for several hours.
The suspect, who has not been identified, was taken to Lubbock for an autopsy, which was expected to be performed today.
Merket, a seven-year veteran with the police department, has been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation into the shooting, the news release stated.
Police Chief Brian Haggard said that the Texas Rangers have been asked to head the investigation and that no further information into the incident will be released at this time.