Man shot during police stop

On August 7, 2013 the Nacogdoches County Sheriff Office, Texas Department of Public Safety Swat team, United States Marshall Office and the precinct 4 Constable Office conducted a joint operation to execute a high risk felony search and arrest warrant in an attempt to arrest a fugitive.
Sheriff Jason Bridges stated that Kevin Barrett Koonce 46 years of age from Etoile, Texas had an outstanding warrant for his arrest for the offense of motion to revoke probation with the original charge being Aggravated Assault with a deadly weapon 2nd felony. The warrant was issued for Koonce’s arrest on July 17, 2012.
Since that time, deputies have attempted to locate and execute the felony warrant several times to apprehend Koonce but were unsuccessful. During this time the Sheriff Office has gained information that Koonce was heavily armed and has made statements that he would not be taken alive. Sheriff Office has also gained information and had personal knowledge that Koonce has a history of being violent and also learned that he was bipolar and off his medication.
During the last eight months, the sheriff Office has made numerous attempts to reach out to family members and his attorney to seek a peaceful surrender. Recently the Sheriff Office and the United State Marshall Service gained information of a positive location on where Koonce was living on Cr. 466 in Etoile, Texas.
The residence was a motor home that had been pulled out into a secluded wooded area well away from any houses.
Sheriff Bridges stated that after many months of attempting to have Koonce turn himself into authorities , no progression in the case was being made . Koonce was being seen at times by the public in which he was always armed. Koonce was using social media sites and posting rhetoric about weapons, law enforcement, and anti-government issues.
It was believed by law enforcement that Kevin Koonce was becoming more of a threat to not only to law enforcement but the general public, that a tactical operations plan was put together to capture him. On Monday Morning the Nacogdoches County Sheriff Office obtained a search warrant to enter onto the property of Kevin Koonce. On Wednesday Morning around 5:00 am, law enforcement officials arrived in Etoile Texas. While staging for the execution of the search warrant, a vehicle was observed driving down the road that Sheriff Jason Bridges knew was possibly associated to the suspect, Kevin Koonce.
Deputies then attempted a traffic stop on the vehicle to see if the suspect was inside. The traffic stop occurred on highway 103e just west of Etoile Texas. The driver of the vehicle stopped on the side of the roadway. The driver then immediately jumped out of his vehicle and came running at the patrol unit opening fire with a pistol in his hand. The Deputy was able to escape his patrol unit and take cover. The suspect was still firing upon the deputy. The Deputy was forced to return fire on the suspect in an attempt to stop the suspect’s actions.
EMS was on scene within a matter of minutes to give medical aid to the suspect. The suspect was pronounced deceased at the scene. An Autopsy has been ordered.
The Deputy Involved in the shooting has been placed on paid administrative leave and the Nacogdoches County Sheriff Office is conducting an internal investigation. The Texas Rangers are also conducting an investigation into the shooting.

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18 Responses to Man shot during police stop

  1. concerned citizen says:

    Please people dont judge someones actions unless you have been in those same shoes. I have been shot at before and quickly returned fire. That is what police officers do, this man attacked them not the other way around. Try doing the job of law enforcement, most of you wouldnt last an hour.

    • Patriot says:

      Bridges ego almost cost the life of one of his deputies and did cost the life of Mr. Koonce, that is the point. If the deputy was in fact being fired upon dang straight he had the right to shoot back, but he never should have been alone in that situation. You mean to tell me they had all those assets in the area including a helicopter and one lone deputy thought it would be a good idea to pull over an armed and dangerous felon???

      I would love to see the full police report posted on this blog so we could at least know the official version of what really happened.

      • Are you serious? says:

        Patriot,

        When you are the first one to the scene I guess technically you are alone, but only momentarily. Even though it was highly suspected that this person would not willingly be taken into custody, the Officers still have to attempt to apprehend him in the conventional manner consistent with the situation. Meaning it was more then likely what is known as a Felony traffic stop. When the suspect gets out of the vehicle and fires at Officers, most reasonable people would contend that this person is a severe danger and should be dealt with by using deadly force, Sometimes the bad guy actually gets shot and perishes. This is a direct result of deisions that he made and forced the Officer to react to. As to the helicopter, I am sure that it was there as support for medical evac for an injured Officer, and to possibly use a flir in case the subject fled on foot in a wooded area. It was not an Apache gunship. In the future instead of throwing out wild accusations, maybe you could ask pertinant questions in a reasonable manner to the right persons, and maybe not watch so much TV.

  2. wow says:

    To Renee:
    A man is dead. This man has family and believe it or not renee he has friends. He wasn’t always the way you are describing. He had demons as Im sure you do as well. Have a little compassion for his family and friends. Name calling and bad nothing the deceased is not very becoming of you. Have a heart. I hope and pray your children never have demons they have to deal with. ne

  3. Renee says:

    All of you that think Kevin Koonce was a good guy…You do not know what a thug he was. What would you do if a person was firing at you…Give up and let him kill you, and many others? I have had this person in my face. He was very intimidating because he was huge! He was going to get shot by someone at some time…just a matter of time.
    He was a very angry person.
    Don’t blame law enforcement for shooting him in self defense. I am thankful that he can’t threaten me anymore. I appreciate everything Jason Bridges is doing. Obey the law, stay free of drugs, stealing, driving drunk…no problem. All the negative comments are from folks that have either been arrested, a family member arrested. He is the best thing since Roebuck. That man kept law and order.

  4. Renee says:

    Who is the salon person? I do not want to go to her.

  5. rip says:

    Anyone know who the officer was? Why was the officer alone if they had so many officers out there? Why did they search his home, what were they looking for? They already had hIm. So many questions and no answers.

  6. Mrs. Smith says:

    I don’t think it’s a conspiracy, but I do believe there is more to the story that what’s being told. Everyone has to know that.

  7. Mike says:

    Tell us what you know Patriot. Do you think this is a grand conspiracy of the NCSO, DPS, and Texas Rangers.

    • Patriot says:

      1) The supposed anti-law enforcement propaganda that Kevin posted on his Facebook page were actually links to news articles about actual incidents of police brutality.

      2) The civilian witness is scared to talk even though the alleged assailant is deceased.

      3) Kevin was a whistleblower against Chesapeake Energy in Michigan

      4) How does the Sheriff’s office know what medication Mr. Koonce was currently prescribed? That is confidential information.

      5) Kevin had also previously criticized the NCSO on this very site.

      Conspiracy? Maybe or maybe not. Did many people want to silence Kevin Koonce? Yes and this is just part of the story.

      • L-I-V-I-N says:

        I’m not without compassion, I pray for the Koonce family who lost their son.
        However, Kevin victimized someone with a deadly weapon, plead guilted, and was placed on probation. At some point, Kevin decided he did not want to be held accountable for his crime anymore and quit following his probation requirements. Then, a warrant was issued for his arrest. Kevin tells everyone that would listen he is not going to be taken alive and disregards law enforcement attempts at having him turn himself in and be held accountable for making someone a victim.
        On the day he was to be arrested, he did what he told so many he was going to do, he was not taken alive.
        I guess that makes law enforcement a bunch of meanies and warrants a conspiracy accusation. When, in history, has having a felony warrant for your arrest, not garnished the interest of law enforcement?
        By the way, I’m tired of people lumping every law that’s been on the books for ages into a government conspiracy. Then, they hide behind the name of being a patriot. These people aren’t patriots, they just have never liked being told what to do.
        I hate that accountability is so cheap these days.

    • Renee says:

      The grand cons. was to keep a dangerous, sick, thug from killing innocent people when he went off his rocker. Our sheriff might have kept you, Mr. Patriot…from being his next victim. If you don’t like what the sheriff does, run for office, big guy. I bet you’ll keep quiet then…when you get 20 votes.

  8. Patriot says:

    Don’t believe these bogus press releases. Bridges and the NCSO have blood on their hands!

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