Mike King, a fugitive bodyguard for US Representative Jasmine Crockett, was shot and killed during a SWAT standoff in Dallas, Texas, on Wednesday night. King was wanted for impersonating a police officer, according to sources cited by CBS News.
The incident began with a police chase that ended in the parking garage of Children’s Medical Center Dallas shortly before midnight. King barricaded himself inside a vehicle and was forced out by tear gas before pulling a gun on officers, who then shot him dead.
King ran a business called Off Duty Police Services, which placed police officers in off-duty security jobs. He allegedly used multiple aliases, drove a replica undercover police car with stolen licence plates, and was not a licensed officer. Despite this, he had been hired by Crockett's campaign for security services, reportedly as recently as last year.
Crockett, a Democrat who recently lost the Texas Senate primary to James Talarico, had faced criticism for her campaign's treatment of the press. In February, her team called police on reporters from CNN and The Atlantic, escorting them from events. King was frequently seen at Crockett's side during her campaign.
The Dallas Police Department had been tracking King before the fatal confrontation. His criminal history and the duration of his fugitive status remain unclear.
