Multiple sources told WFAA a man fatally shot by SWAT was a convicted felon who operated a private security company while posing as a police officer.
DALLAS — A man shot and killed by SWAT officers during a standoff at Children’s Medical Center Dallas was a convicted felon who, according to multiple sources, had been operating a private security company while convincing people he was a police officer.
The shooting happened around 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in a parking garage at Children’s Medical Center in the 1900 block of Medical District Drive.
Dallas Police Chief Daniel Comeaux said members of the fugitive task force were conducting surveillance on a suspect wanted on outstanding warrants when they followed him into the garage. Dallas police said the suspect barricaded himself inside his vehicle.
SWAT officers were called to the scene and used tear gas and other methods to force the man out of the car. When he exited the vehicle, officers said he pointed a gun at them. SWAT officers then opened fire, killing him.
Multiple sources told WFAA the man killed had been operating a private security company and using multiple aliases.
Sources said the man employed armed security guards despite being a convicted felon.
According to sources, the man portrayed himself as a law enforcement officer and posted photographs of himself in what appeared to be a police uniform. Sources said he was able to convince some clients — and even some police officers — that he was a legitimate officer and that his security company was legitimate.
Sources also said the man claimed to have high-profile clients, including banks, hotels and political figures.
Dallas police officers have told WFAA the company was posting jobs through RollKall, a platform commonly used by police officers to sign up for off-duty security work. According to sources, some Dallas officers unknowingly worked security assignments believing the company was legitimate.
Sean Pease, president of the Dallas Police Association, said officers are now concerned about what personal information may have been shared.
“Our officers are definitely very concerned because they want to make sure that when they provide their information, that it is protected,” Pease said.
Pease also said the suspect appears to have manipulated verification processes used to appear legitimate.
“He manipulated several different things at a very high level to produce identification and go through the same verification process to appear as a law enforcement officer,” Pease said.
Police sources said the man sometimes asked officers for additional information outside the RollKall platform, raising concerns that some personal information may have been shared directly with him.
Court records show the man had prior felony theft convictions involving hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Sources said investigators found multiple identification cards and aliases linked to the suspect. Authorities ultimately had to rely on fingerprints to confirm his identity.
The case is raising questions about how a convicted felon was able to obtain weapons, operate a security company and persuade people he was a police officer.
RollKall released the following statement to WFAA:
“RollKall is a technology platform used by law enforcement agencies, businesses, and organizations to manage off-duty assignments. The individual in question is not, and has never been, a RollKall employee. We can also confirm that at no point was this individual able to access or disseminate the personal data or personally identifiable information of any other person on the platform.
RollKall remains committed to the security and trust of the law enforcement professionals and organizations we serve. RollKall actively cooperated with the Dallas Police Department’s investigation into the individual in question, and we will continue to work closely with them and any other relevant law enforcement authorities as their investigation continues.”
Dallas police said the investigation into the shooting is ongoing. Authorities are also expected to release body camera video from the SWAT officers involved.