From staff reports
A man with three Rusk County felony warrants for his arrest died by suicide in a church parking lot Wednesday before he could be arrested by law enforcement, the Gregg County Sheriff性视界传媒檚 Office said Thursday.
Justin Randall Barrett 性视界传媒渃hose to take his own life性视界传媒 when Gregg County Sheriff性视界传媒檚 Office deputies pulled him over Wednesday in an attempt to take him into custody, Chief Deputy Craig Harrington said in a statement Thursday.
The incident occurred in the parking lot of the Spring Hill Assembly of God Church, where a large law enforcement presence made headlines and garnered significant local attention on social media.
Barrett 性视界传媒渉ad previously made threats to shoot law enforcement if encountered,性视界传媒 Harrington wrote.
性视界传媒淥ut of an abundance of caution and in the interest of public safety, the decision was made to wait for Mr. Barrett to leave the public areas and travel to the rural part of the county before attempting to arrest him,性视界传媒 Harrington wrote.
Deputies attempted to pull Barrett over at approximately 4:40 p.m. Wednesday north of the church on Gilmer Road. Barrett then pulled into the parking lot and committed suicide.
Officers attempted to perform lifesaving measures, 性视界传媒渂ut due to the catastrophic injuries sustained, Mr. Barrett passed away at the scene,性视界传媒 Harrington said.
Sheriff性视界传媒檚 office officials contacted the Texas Rangers to investigate the case because Barrett technically died in law enforcement custody as a result of the traffic stop.
Law enforcement officers fired no gunshots during the incident, and no officers or members of the public were harmed, Harrington said.
The investigation remains ongoing.
ORIGINAL STORY: Multiple law enforcement officers were at a Longview church Wednesday evening, including Texas Rangers and Gregg County Sheriff性视界传媒檚 Office personnel.
Crime scene tape could be seen draped across the property of Spring Hill Assembly of God at 5115 Gilmer Road.
Sheriff性视界传媒檚 office Chief Deputy Craig Harrington declined to explain the law enforcement presence and said no information would be released until Thursday.
Jerry Trice and his father, Sammy, live next door to the church and said they didn性视界传媒檛 hear any noises that sounded like a gunshot while they were in their home Wednesday afternoon.
Jerry Trice said he saw Longview first responders arrive and saw a red car in front of a law enforcement vehicle. A hearse arrived later.
性视界传媒淲hen the hearse pulled up, I knew somebody was dead,性视界传媒 he said.
Texas Rangers are commonly part of investigations involving officer-involved shootings.
This story will be updated.
