Man shot dead on live TV after high-speed police chase

A Texas man was shot dead on live TV on Wednesday following a high-speed police chase.

Police said it started when Trey Shepard, 41, made two unsafe lane changes in a blue Chrysler 300 in northeast Harris County, Texas. Media reports also name him as Frank Ernest Shepard III. Shepard refused to pull over and led police on a 30-minute chase, according to USA Today.

Harris County Sheriff’s Deputy Thomas Gilliland said Shepard called 911 and said he had a child in the car and that he would hurt the child if police didn’t leave him alone.

Shepard stayed on the 8 Beltway in northeast Houston for some time, dodging spike strips before exiting and continuing the chase down a feeder road. He eventually went through an intersection and can be seen on video slamming into a small white car, sending it spinning, and an SUV.

The female driver of the car was taken to the hospital with minor injuries, according to the Houston Chronicle. A man and a woman in the SUV were treated at the scene.

Shepard jumped from his car and was told to show his hands. He then reached back into the car, at which point two officers fired a total of 10-12 shots, according to Gilliland.

“Fearing for their lives that the suspect was reaching for a weapon, two officers did discharge their weapon at the vehicle, striking the suspect and killing him,” Gilliland told ABC 13.

A local elementary and middle school were put on lockdown during the chase.

Family members told ABC 13 Shepard was a father of three with a child on the way. The two police officers involved in the shooting were uninjured.