Griffith Addresses Police Presence Around Lamar Elementary

SAN ANGELO, TX — Police Chief Travis Griffith addressed the media Monday afternoon regarding the presence of numerous law enforcement around the campus of Lamar Elementary.

Griffith said a family violence situation involving a firearm near the school prompted the response by the San Angelo Police Department, Tom Green County Sheriff’s Office and Department of Public Safety.

A parking lot across from Lamar Elementary, 3444 School House Drive, was the site of numerous police vehicles, including their mobile command center and BearCat armored tactical vehicle.

According to a text message from Lamar Elementary, the campus was placed on its secure protocol due to police activity in the neighborhood. The school stated that staff and students were safe inside the building.

As of 12:45 p.m., there was still an active standoff between law enforcement and a 43-year-old male in the area near the intersection of Shady Hill Drive and Canyon Rim Drive, Griffith said.

“I want to reiterate there’s nothing involving the San Angelo school district,” Griffith said. “This just happened to be the only parking lot anywhere close where we could have our operation ongoing. … I can see why people are concerned. We could not release this right away, because we did not want to tip our hand to the actual suspect in this case.”

Witnesses in the area said it appeared police were able to get two older people out of the residence. Griffith stated he believed the 43-year-old man was the only person still in the house.

"We want to reassure everybody that there's no threat to those that are in the neighborhood. If you are in that region right there close to the intersection, we ask that you stay inside," Griffith said. "You'll see a stronger police presence there. And we want to let everybody know outside that area that your kids are safe. I have a lot of extra law enforcement behind me. 

"And we're asking for God's favor on this that we came out with a positive resolution."

The lengthy police standoff ended about 3 p.m. Monday when the suspect was brought out of a residence on a stretcher by law enforcement.

He was later pronounced deceased from a self-inflicted gunshot wound

After a couple hours of negotiations were unable to bring the situation to an end, law enforcement heard gunshots from inside the house and brought out a battering ram and entered the home.

When the man was brought out being carried on a stretcher by six SWAT officers, he was loaded into an ambulance, and law enforcement began to leave the scene.

The suspect had allegedly threatened to kill his wife and then take his own life, police said. His wife was able to safely leave the residence without injury.