Irving PD shoots robbery suspect dead who took employee hostage

A robbery suspect who took a hostage was shot dead in an officer-involved shooting in Irving on Friday afternoon.

Two uniformed Irving police officers responded to a robbery in progress call before 2 p.m. Friday at the Cash Store near Esters Road and 183 in the 4100 block of W. Airport Freeway.

Police said after the suspect robbed the store, he briefly took a female employee hostage and threatened her with a handgun if police got involved.

“The suspect rounded the corner and put the hostage into a car. At that moment, realizing the hostage’s life was in danger, the officers opened fire – striking and killing the suspect,” said Irving police spokesman James McClellan.

The hostage was not harmed during the incident. She and other store employees are being interviewed by police.

A video of the incident was recorded by a person at the store next door and shows police killing the suspect with a single shot while he was holding the woman hostage.

Police said the store had been robbed previously on Jan. 14 and there had been a rash of robberies in the area since November.