Taylor County Sheriff's Deputy Placed on Paid Leave After Fatal Shooting

ABILENE, TX — An Abilene man has died of gunshot wounds he sustained when, as Taylor County Sheriff Ricky Bishop said, the man lunged at deputies with a knife, Natalie Martinez at KTXS reported Sunday afternoon.

KTXS interviewed that man’s brother who said Emmett Edward Hall, the suspect who was shot, was a 60-year-old veteran suffering from paranoid schizophrenia. He lived like a hermit, the brother told KTXS.

Hall’s brother told KTXS that the family agreed to remove life support after doctors informed them there was not any more that could be done. Hall died at 3:45 a.m., the brother told KTXS.

Sheriff Bishop said four deputies attempted to serve a warrant last night around 10 p.m. Previous attempts during the day were unsuccessful. When deputies approached Hall, he attacked one deputy with a knife. Hall was shot by one or more of the deputies in self defense.

In the KTXS interview with Hall’s brother, the brother stated Emmett Hall didn’t understand why the warrant had been served at the late hour.

The warrant was for an April 15 crash where Emmett Hall was accused of driving while intoxicated. Texas 42^nd District Court Judge issued the warrant for Hall’s arrest Friday for the charge of DWI with crash, a state felony, KTXS reported.

Sheriff Bishop said last night his office turned the investigation over to the Texas Rangers. His comments on the incident last night were the last he can make.

Update: Wed. June 14 @  9:50 a.m.

The sheriff's deputy, who fired one bullet in self-defense against Hall last Saturday, has been placed on paid administrative leave, according to a KTXS report. 

 An autopsy on Hall's body was performed on Monday, and The Taylor County District Attorney's Office will review the results to decided if charges should be filed. 

Cameron Niblock contributed to this story