The officers spoke to Mayo and said they smelled marijuana coming from the inside of the car, Garza said. They checked his name and license plates and came back with a felony warrant for probation violation and a bulletin that the car’s occupants might be armed and dangerous.
A police spokesman said the officers tried to coax Mayo out of the car, but didn’t tell him he was under arrest. They got a helicopter in the area, police said.
Garza said Mayo suddenly put his car in reverse when additional officers arrived. The woman bailed out of the car, and Mayo sped off, nearly hitting an officer.
The woman was taken to headquarters for questioning.
Police pursued Mayo, who came to a complete stop multiple times during the chase. He eventually got to the Southwest Center Mall parking lot and jumped out of the car holding a gun to his own head, police said. Then he ducked back in and shut the door again.
“Officers tried again and again to get him to surrender,” Garza said.
Then, about 15 minutes later, he got out of the car once more and quickly fell to the ground near the driver’s door.
“The officers saw the threat, and that’s when they took action,” he said.
Witnesses said the man pointed a weapon at police before he was shot.
“He kept getting out of the car,” said Tedrick Williams, 37. “The last time, he got out and pointed his gun at them, and that was it.
