Monday, July 14, 2008

McKinney police officer shoots, kills domestic disturbance suspect

By Rodney Williams of McKinneyNews.net

MCKINNEY — A domestic disturbance turned deadly Sunday afternoon.

McKinney Police responded to a 911 call placed by Leslie Aegan, 45, of 2928 Berry Hill. Aegan reported that her ex-husband and her boyfriend were fighting inside her house and that the ex-husband had brought a gun with him. Officers arrived on scene within one minute of the call and what ensued ultimately ended the life of Harry Bailey, 49.

Police say that initial responding officers Tina McEntire and Lindsey Jenkins made their way into Aegan's residence and attempted to end the struggle. Police say Bailey then attacked one of the officers. According to MPD Lieutenant Scott Brewer, the third responding officer, Chad Barker, arrived in the house and ordered Bailey off the female officer.

"The suspect failed to comply, the third responding officer fired at the suspect, the suspect was hit and later died from his injuries at the scene," Brewer said.

Brewer said both McEntire and Jenkins suffered minor injuries and were treated and released. Neither Aegan nor her boyfriend, Lance Neves, 37, appeared to have suffered any injuries as they left the scene hours later.

Police did not want to speculate as to the cause of the disturbance. Subsequent investigation did reveal that Bailey parked his vehicle in a nearby shopping center parking lot. It is unknown at this time exactly how Bailey arrived at the house on Berry Hill from the shopping center parking lot and how he made entry into the residence.

Formal charges have not been filed and that would be left until the end of the investigation. The officers involved in the altercation and shooting have been placed on routine administrative leave, according to Brewer.

The investigation is ongoing, and the Texas Department of Public Safety and Texas Rangers will be assisting the MPD in that endeavor. MPD's Criminal Investigations Division will attempt to answer questions about the shooting. How many shots were fired? Who fired the shot that killed Bailey? Did Bailey fire on an officer or draw his weapon? These questions will be key as investigators formally piece together the puzzle of what happened on Berry Hill on Sunday afternoon.

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