Full Notification

***Update 2-17-22***
 
On February 15, 2022, at 12:18 PM, the Amarillo Emergency Communications Center received a 3rd party call of a suicidal person making threats to harm themself. At the time of the call, there was no mention of a weapon or of a means for the person to inflict self-harm. The subject of the call was identified as Jacob Salas-Tijerina, a 40-year-old male. The caller stated that Jacob had stopped responding to them and that they did not know where he could be located.  
 
Members of the Amarillo Police Department Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) were dispatched to investigate the call. Crisis Intervention Team members are specially trained to handle situations when people are suffering from a mental health crisis. Each Crisis Intervention Team member is partnered with a licensed mental health counselor that rides with them and assists on these calls.
 
The officers determined that Jacob was in a business at 3808 southwest 6th Avenue. Just after 1:00 PM, the CIT units went to that location to attempt to contact Jacob and assist him with getting any help he may need. As the officers and counselors entered the open business, they encountered multiple employees and customers in the building. Jacob, who was armed with a gun, emerged from a back room. As the officers began to speak with Jacob, he made a statement to the officers and immediately pointed the gun at them and the counselors. One of the officers fired shots and struck him. The officers gave medical aid to Jacob until he could be transported to a local hospital with life threatening injuries.
 
A second person, who had been in a back room of the building when the shooting occurred, was struck by a bullet during the incident. The 25-year-old male was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
 
The investigation is being conducted by the Amarillo Police Department Homicide Unit and all findings will be turned over to the District Attorney’s Office for review.
 
 
***Update 2-15-22***

On February 15 at 12:18 PM, the Amarillo Emergency Communications Center received a 3rd party call of a suicidal subject making threats to harm themself. The location of the male was not known. Members of the Amarillo Police Department Crisis Intervention Team were dispatched to investigate the call. Crisis Intervention Team members are trained to handle calls where people are suffering from a mental health crisis. Each Crisis Intervention Team member is teamed with a mental health counselor from Texas Panhandle Centers. Just after 1:00 PM, the officers located the male inside of a business at 3808 southwest 6th Avenue. As officers entered the building, they encountered the male armed with a gun. One of the officers fired shots at the male to protect themself and the others present in the building. The male was transported to a local hospital with life threatening injuries. A second person was transported from the location with non-life-threatening injuries. The Amarillo Police Department Homicide Unit investigates all officer involved shootings


***Initial Release***

Amarillo Police officers are at the scene of a shooting on 6th Avenue. More information will be released when it becomes available.