In a recent critical incident brief released by the Mesquite Police Department, body camera footage was shown from an intense officer involved shooting that occurred on January 31st, 2022.

At approximately 8:30 p.m., an officer conducting routine patrol in the 800 block of I-30, identified a vehicle of a warranted man parked outside of a nearby parking lot. As shown in the dashcam footage, seconds after the officer approached the parked truck, the suspect, later identified as 40-year-old Joseph Wayne Butler, exited the vehicle, and began fleeing the area.

With an officer pursuing, Butler drew a firearm from his waist band, turned over his shoulder and began discharging the weapon toward the responding MPD officer. In response, the officer returned fire on Butler, striking him multiple times, and neutralizing him.

Secondary officers arrived on scene and provided Butler with life-saving medical treatment. Butler was transferred from the scene to a nearby medical facility, where he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased.

The officer involved in the incident sustained no major injuries.