Nacogdoches County Deputy Involved in Fatal Shooting

ETOILE — One person is dead after Nacogdoches County deputies, SWAT, and U.S. Marshals attempted to serve a high risk felony warrant Wednesday morning. According to KETK, officials say Kevin Barrett Koonce, 46, of Etoile, was shot as he charged at officers firing his gun. Sheriff Jason Bridges said Koonce had an outstanding warrant for his arrest for the offense of motion to revoke probation with the original charge being aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. The warrant was issued for Koonce’s arrest on July 17, 2012. Since that time, deputies had attempted to locate Koonce and execute the felony warrant several times but were unsuccessful.

According to authorities, the sheriff’s office gained information that Koonce was heavily armed and made statements that he would not be taken alive. Officials say Koonce had a history of being violent. They say they also learned that he was bi-polar and off his medication. During the last eight months, officials reportedly made numerous attempts to reach out to Koonce’s family members and attorney to seek a peaceful surrender. Recently, authorities gained information of a positive location on where Koonce was living on County Road 466 in Etoile.

Koonce lived in a motor home that had been pulled out into a secluded wooded area away from any other homes. After many months of attempting to have Koonce turn himself in to authorities, no progress in the case was being made, according to officials. They say Koonce was being seen at times by the public in which he was always armed. Koonce was using social media sites and posting rhetoric about weapons, law enforcement and anti-government issues, according to authorities. It was believed by law enforcement that Koonce was becoming more of a threat not only to law enforcement but to the general public.

On Monday morning the Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Office obtained a search warrant to enter onto Koonce’s property. On Wednesday morning around 5:00, units arrived in Etoile. While law officers staged for the execution of the search warrant, Koonce was seen driving down Highway 103 East. When deputies attempted a traffic stop on Koonce, he stopped on the side of the road, jumped out of his car, and ran at the patrol unit while shooting his pistol, according to officials.

A deputy was able to escape his patrol unit and take cover. Koonce was still firing when the deputy was forced to return fire, according to a sheriff’s department news release. EMS was on scene within a matter of minutes to give medical aid to Koonce, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. The deputy involved in the shooting has been placed on paid administrative leave, and the Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Office and the Texas Rangers are conducting investigations.