FORT WORTH, Texas - The Fort Worth Police Department is investigating an officer-involved shooting after an officer fired a single shot at a woman suspected of firing a handgun in a South Fort Worth neighborhood. No one was injured during the incident.
According to the Fort Worth Police Department, officers were dispatched at approximately 8:44 p.m. on July 15 to the 1700 block of Belshire Court after receiving multiple reports of shots being fired.
Dispatchers advised responding officers that a Black woman wearing a pink shirt, possible gray shorts and no shoes was firing a handgun into trees. The 9-1-1 call was classified as a Priority 1 response after the call taker heard at least one gunshot in the background.
While searching the area in a marked patrol vehicle, officers located a woman matching the suspect's description.
Police said the woman, later identified as 34-year-old Leandra Johnson, fled on foot as officers attempted to contact her. Despite repeated verbal commands to stop, she continued running.
During the pursuit, one officer observed Johnson reaching into the purse she was carrying. Believing she was reaching for a firearm, the officer fired one round toward Johnson.
The shot did not strike Johnson. She immediately went to the ground and was taken into custody without further incident.
Officers searched Johnson and her purse but did not locate a firearm. Police also confirmed that no people or property were struck by gunfire during the incident.
Detectives with the department's Major Case Unit responded to investigate the officer-involved shooting. Through witness interviews, investigators confirmed the suspect matched the description provided by callers and learned the handgun involved had been described as silver.
Investigators later obtained and executed a search warrant at Johnson's residence. Inside the home, detectives found an empty handgun box and ammunition matching a spent shell casing recovered from the scene. Police said paperwork inside the gun box indicated the missing handgun was silver and black.
Detectives also learned multiple family members were inside the home during the incident. After the officer fired his weapon, several people moved in and out of the residence before investigators were able to fully secure the scene. Despite an extensive search of the home and surrounding area, detectives did not recover the firearm.
Johnson was arrested on a charge of Evading Arrest or Detention. Investigators later obtained an additional warrant charging her with Discharging a Firearm.
The officer who fired his weapon is a two-year veteran assigned to the South Patrol Division. The department said this was the officer's first critical police incident.
The Fort Worth Police Department's Major Case Unit continues to investigate the shooting.
