by Grand Prairie, TX – A disturbing incident unfolded early Thursday morning when Thomas Simpson, a Grand Prairie resident, was shot by police after opening his garage door to what he initially believed were burglars. The police, however, had mistakenly arrived at Simpson’s home due to a 911 dispatch error, leading to a frightening confrontation that has left the family demanding answers and legal action.
Simpson’s case highlights serious concerns regarding police protocol and emergency dispatch systems. The shooting occurred despite Simpson quickly recognizing the arriving individuals as law enforcement officers and dropping his weapon immediately.
A Frightening Encounter Due to Dispatch Error
At approximately 1:30 a.m. on Thursday, Simpson was awoken by his dogs barking. Fearing a break-in, he armed himself and opened the garage door prepared to defend his home. He raised his firearm in self-defense but dropped it as soon as he saw police badges. According to Simpson:
“I never popped a round off. As soon as the door opened, I saw their badge. I threw the gun to the ground, got shot in the leg.”
Despite this, police fired a total of eight rounds, some striking walls of the garage and interior, with at least one bullet hitting Simpson’s leg. The family stated officers did not identify themselves as Grand Prairie Police Department.
The police later acknowledged they had been responding to a disturbance call but were dispatched to the wrong address due to a computer-aided dispatch system malfunction.
Impact on Family: Detainment and Home Damage
The aftermath of the shooting was harrowing for Simpson’s family. All five members, including his 13-year-old and 16-year-old children, along with a nephew, were detained for around four hours. The teenagers, despite being minors, were handcuffed and kept in police vehicles for several hours.
“Even my children, 13-year-old and 16-year-old, had to sit in the back of a cop car in handcuffs for three hours,” Simpson emphasized.
Adding to the family’s distress, the shooting caused significant damage to their home. The family was in the process of moving out of their rental when one bullet ruptured a water pipe, flooding the house with approximately three inches of water. Fortunately, most belongings had been moved before the incident.
The Family’s Demand for Accountability and Next Steps
Simpson expressed frustration over the incident’s handling and the lack of any immediate apology or explanation from police. He was hospitalized for his leg injury but has since been released. The family is now planning to pursue legal action against those responsible for the mistake.
“We’re gonna talk to lawyers and go after everybody responsible for it,” said Simpson. “They need to pay. They need to learn there’s consequences to their actions.”
He also criticized police conduct and procedures during the incident:
“Hopefully, they’ll follow their police procedures in the future, because from what it appears, a lot of the actual procedures were (expletive) in my opinion,” Simpson stated.
As CBS News Texas reports, the Grand Prairie Police Department has yet to provide further comment, and the incident remains under investigation. For more details, visit the original coverage at CBS News Texas.
Key Facts at a Glance:
- Thomas Simpson was shot in the leg by Grand Prairie police at approximately 1:30 a.m. Thursday.
- The police mistakenly arrived at Simpson’s home due to a computer dispatch error responding to a disturbance call.
- Officers fired eight rounds, some hitting the garage and causing property damage including a ruptured water pipe.
- Five family members were detained for about four hours; teenagers were handcuffed and kept in police vehicles.
- Simpson plans legal action citing police misconduct and demand for accountability.
This incident raises crucial questions about the reliability of emergency dispatch systems and police engagement protocols, emphasizing the need for improvements to prevent similar tragedies.
What do you think about this incident? Have you or someone you know experienced a similar emergency response error? Share your thoughts and stories in the comments below!
