Man dies in deputy-involved shooting

SMITH COUNTY — One person is dead following a deputy-involved shooting in Lindale. According to our news partner KETK, Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a threat call at a business in Lindale on Tuesday at around 12:50 p.m. The caller said Jonathan Layton had recently been terminated and had made threats that “he was going home and would return to the business to kill them.”

Before officials arrived, Layton had left the business and a description of his vehicle was released. A responding deputy noticed the suspect vehicle headed south on US 69 prior to receiving the information. Officials attempted to contact Layton at the 13200 block of CR 4109 east of Lindale, and found his vehicle in the front yard of a residence.

“When deputies attempted to contact Layton at the residence, he turned around holding a handgun pointed in their direction. One of the deputies fired at Layton with his duty weapon incapacitating him,” Smith County officials said.

Medical personnel were called to the scene and took Layton to a local hospital where he reportedly was later pronounced dead.

Smith said that the two deputies reportedly did what they were trained to do and will be on leave for a few days to consult with their attorneys. An autopsy has been ordered and the Texas Rangers have responded to the scene to conduct the investigation, as called for by Smith County Sheriff’s protocol.