More details on fatal officer-involved shooting in Smith County

SMITH COUNTY – Authorities are continuing to investigate a fatal officer-involved shooting in Smith County. According to our news partner KETK, the Smith County Sheriff’s Office says 32-year-old Brandon Duvall was shot by deputies around 9:55 p.m. on Saturday in northwestern Smith County. A call initially came in to dispatch at 7:05 p.m. as a domestic disturbance, authorities reported. Officials said the caller identified herself as a victim of an assault by her boyfriend at their residence. Sheriff Larry Smith said his office had answered calls at the home before, but none of them were severe or ended in an arrest.

Authorities said EMS arrived around 7:15 p.m. and staged near the residence, and several Smith County patrol units arrived around 7:29 p.m. Upon arrival, deputies learned Duvall “had left the area in his vehicle at a high rate of speed, losing control of his vehicle at the end of his driveway as it intersects with Smith County Road 459. Duvall’s vehicle struck a power pole, knocking out electricity to several houses in the area,” according to the sheriff’s office. The situation escalated from there, with Duvall returning to the location and a woman identifying herself as Duvall’s mother eventually calling authorities. “She stated that she was not at the location, but her husband called her and she could hear Brandon beating his girlfriend as she was screaming and that he was also threatening his father,” according to a press release.

Arriving deputies “observed a rifle with a scope leaning against the bed next to Duvall and a pistol in his hand. As he pointed the pistol in the direction of the deputies, both deputies fired at Duvall, striking him several times,” according to officials, who say the deputies’ shots proved fatal. The girlfriend was treated at a hospital and released. Smith said Duvall’s six-year-old daughter was at the scene on Saturday outside in a truck with her grandfather. Authorities said she was not in the same room as Duvall was when he was shot. To the sheriff’s knowledge, the girl is still with her grandparents.

Per standard protocol for officer-involved shootings by Smith County Sheriff’s Office personnel, the Texas Rangers were contacted to investigate the incident. Both deputies have been put on administrative leave, as is also Sheriff’s Office protocol, “until it is determined they are ready to return to duty.” Smith said the deputies are doing “as well as can be expected” in the circumstances. “Obviously nobody wants to be in a situation to have to take somebody’s life,” Smith said. In a press conference, Smith also praised dispatch for the way they handled the situation. An autopsy has been ordered, and officials say more information will be released once it’s available.