Brian Danis

CUSTODIAL DEATH REPORT Agency Information CDR Number: PA16122C Version Type: AMENDED 3/28/2016 11:14 Report Date: Status: Submitted AM Agency/Facility Information Texas Department Agency Name: Agency Address: P. O. Box 4087 Of Public Safety Agency City: Austin Agency State: TX Agency Zip: 78773 Director Information Director Salutation: Colonel Director First Name: Steven Director Middle Name: C. Director Last Name: McCraw Corey Lain, Lt., Reporter Name: Reporter Email: [email protected] Texas Ranger Decedent Information Custodial Death Report :: Page 1 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- Identity of Deceased First Name: Brian Middle Name: Last Name: Danis Suffix: Date of Birth: 6/23/1963 Sex: Male Race: Age At Time Of Death: 52 Date/Time of Custody (arrest, incarceration) (mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm AM/PM): Date/Time of Custody or 2/26/2016 9:05 AM Incident: Date/Time of Death (mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm AM/PM): Death Date and Time: 2/26/2016 9:05 AM Manner / Cause of Death Has a medical examiner or coroner conducted an evaluation to determine a cause of death? Medical Examiner/Coroner Yes, results are Evaluation?: available What was the manner of death? (select only one) Manner of Death: Suicide Custodial Death Report :: Page 2 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- Medical Cause of Death: Medical Cause of Death: Penetrating Gunshot Wound to the Head Had the decedent been receiving treatment for the medical condition that caused the death after admission to your jail's jurisdiction? Medical Treatment: Not Applicable If death was an accident, homicide or suicide, who caused the death? Not applicable; cause of death was Who caused the death?: suicide, intoxication or illness/natural causes If a weapon caused the death, what type of weapon caused the death? (Hold CTRL to select all that apply) Type of weapon that caused Handgun death?: Was the cause of death the result of a pre-existing medical condition or did the decedent develop the condition after admission? Not Applicable; cause of death was Pre existing medical accidental injury, condition?: intoxication, suicide or homicide If death was an accident, homicide or suicide, what was the means of death? Means of Death: Firearm Location / Custody Information Custodial Death Report :: Page 3 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- Where did the event causing the death occur? Street Address: 4066 Highway 59 City: George West County: Live_Oak Zip: What location category best describes where the event causing the death occurred? Location Category: What type of custody/facility was the Decedent in at the time of death: Police Custody Type of Custody: (pre-booking) Specific type of custody/facility: Specific Type of Custody/Facility: Custody of Peace Officer during/fleeing arrest What was the time and date of the deceased's entry into the law enforcement facility where the death occurred (mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm AM/PM): Entry Date Time: Entry Date Time N/A: Where did the death occur? At the crime/arrest Death Location: scene General Information Custodial Death Report :: Page 4 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- Did any other law enforcement agencies respond to calls for service related to this incident? Other Agencies Respond?: What were the most serious offense(s) with which the deceased was (or would have been) charged with at the time of death? Offense 1: Evading Detention Offense 2: Criminal Mischief Offense 3: Not filed at time of Were the Charges:: death What were the types of charges or reason for contact? (Hold CTRL to select all that apply) Type of Offense: At any time during the incident and/or entry into the law enforcement facility, did the decedent display or use a weapon? Decedent display/use of weapons: At any time during the incident and/or entry into the law enforcement facility, did the decedent: Attempt to Injure Others?: At any time during the incident and/or entry into the law enforcement facility, did the decedent: Appear intoxicated (alcohol or No Make suicidal statements?: drugs): Exhibit any mental health Exhibit any medical problems?: problems?: Custodial Death Report :: Page 5 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- At any time during the incident and/or entry into the law enforcement facility, did the decedent: Barricade self or initiate Resist being handcuffed or Yes standoff?: arrested?: Physically attempt/assault Gain possession of officer's officer(s): weapon: Verbally threaten other(s) Escape or attempt to including law: escape/flee custody: Attempt gain possession officer's weapon: Was the deceased under restraint in the time leading up to the death or the events causing the death? Under Restraint: No Summary of Incident Summary of How the Death Occurred: (max. 30,000 characters) Summary: On 2/26/2016 and at approximately 9:05 AM at the intersection of Interstate Highway 37 and U.S. Highway 59 at George West, CVE Trooper Carlos R. Martinez was contacted by the manager of a Valero convenience store in the area who stated that a white male dressed in military fatigues and driving a blue Volkswagen was acting strangely at the Valero gas station. (The manager later discovered that male had vandalized the store including cutting a gas pump hose and attempting to remove a fire extinguisher.) The Trooper located the reported blue Volkswagen as it exited the Valero parking lot and followed the vehicle as it drove to the east side of Interstate 37 and into the Flying J parking lot. The suspicious vehicle stopped at the gas pumps of the Flying J gas station and a white male in military fatigues stepped out and began to put gas into the vehicle's gas tank. The male acted strangely as he repeatedly put the gas handle back onto the gas pump several times. The subject ran into the store and continued his strange behavior. The man ran back to the pump and began spilling gas onto the ground as he again repeatedly pulled the pump hose off and onto the pump. The CVE Trooper made contact with and identified the suspicious acting man to be Brian Danis (W/M DOB: 06-23-1963) by his North Carolina Driver licenseand issued United States Military identification (valid until October 2016). Two additional Troopers and a George West Police Department officer arrived on-scene to assist. During questioning, Danis was very calm and stated he was traveling from Dallas and was exercising his rights as a free citizen. Danis put his hands in his pockets and the Trooper asked him to remove his hands from his pockets. Without warning, Danis turned and ran away from the officers and produced a handgun (revolver) from his pocket. Danis turned to see where the officers were in the pursuit, put the gun to his head, and fired the handgun causing a fatal gunshot wound to his head. The Troopers secured the handgun and noted Danis to be deceased. The Troopers then noted suspicious items in the vehicle and notified the Texas Rangers to respond. The Texas Rangers along with Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Texas Department of Public Safety Explosives Ordinance Division, and the Corpus Christi Bomb Response Unit inspected the vehicle and the vehicle’s suspicious contents for possible explosives and/or dangerous chemicals. Texas Ranger James Bennett, Beeville, initiated a criminal investigation into the custodial death incident. Custodial Death Report :: Page 6 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- Custodial Death Report :: Page 7 of 7