Dennis Walter Bell

CUSTODIAL DEATH REPORT Agency Information CDR Number: 25-444-UF Version Type: AMENDED Report Date: 6/12/2025 3:13 PM Status: Submitted Agency/Facility Information Houston Police 1200 Travis, 16th Agency Name: Agency Address: Dept. Floor Agency City: Houston Agency State: TX Agency Zip: 77002 Director Information Director Salutation: Chief Director First Name: J. Noe Director Middle Name: Director Last Name: Diaz Reporter Name: Angeline Grimes Reporter Email: [email protected] Decedent Information Identity of Deceased Custodial Death Report :: Page 1 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- First Name: Dennis Middle Name: Walter Last Name: Bell Suffix: Date of Birth: 8/7/1984 Sex: Male Black or African Race: American Age At Time Of Death: 40 Date/Time of Custody (arrest, incarceration) (mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm AM/PM): Date/Time of Custody or 5/15/2025 5:24 PM Incident: Date/Time of Death (mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm AM/PM): Death Date and Time: 5/15/2025 6:07 PM 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) Homicide (includes Manner of Death: Justifiable Homicide) Custodial Death Report :: Page 2 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- Medical Cause of Death: Medical Cause of Death: Gunshot wounds of the torso 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? Law Who caused the death?: enforcement/correctional personnel 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? 9255 West Sam Street Address: Houston Pkwy City: Houston South County: Harris Zip: 77099 What location category best describes where the event causing the death occurred? Location Category: Residence/Home What type of custody/facility was the Decedent in at the time of death: Pre-Custodial Use Type of Custody: of Force Specific type of custody/facility: Specific Type of Custody/Facility: N/A 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? Dead on arrival at Death Location: medical facility 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?: No 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: Aggravated Assault -Peace Officer Offense 2: 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) Medical / Mental Type of Offense: Health assistance call 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 Yes, mark all that weapons: apply Decedent Display or Use Displayed other Weapon Details: weapon, specify: Specify Weapon Displayed: Knife At any time during the incident and/or entry into the law enforcement facility, did the decedent: Yes (select all that Custodial Death Report :: Page 5 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- Attempt to Injure Others?: apply) Attempted to injure Ways Decedent Attempted To law enforcement Injure Others: personnel 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?: No drugs): Exhibit any mental health No Exhibit any medical problems?: No problems?: 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 No No standoff?: arrested?: Physically attempt/assault Gain possession of officer's Yes No officer(s): weapon: Verbally threaten other(s) Escape or attempt to No No including law: escape/flee custody: Attempt gain possession No 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 May 15, 2025, Officers with the Houston Police Department responded to a "Suicide in Progress" call for service at 9255 West Sam Houston Parkway South. Upon arrival, the officers located the apartment and knocked on the door. A female (the decedent's sister, Jessica Bell) answered, and the officers asked if she had called the police. She confirmed that she had and stated the call was regarding her brother. At that moment, a male (Decedent Dennis Bell) appeared behind the female and suddenly charged out of the Custodial Death Report :: Page 6 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- apartment with a large knife in his hand. The decedent ran directly toward the officers, who were standing just outside the doorway. The officers began to retreat, but the decedent continued to advance. Fearing for their safety and the safety of the others, one officer discharged his duty weapon multiple times, striking the decedent. The decedent fell to the ground and dropped the knife. Once he was secured, the officers immediately began administering medical aid until Houston Fire Department personnel arrived and transported him to the hospital. Unfortunately, the male succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased at 1807 hours. No officers were injured during this incident. The autopsy is completed, the Cause of death is Gunshot wounds of the torso and them manner of death was determined to be Homicide. During an interview with Jessical Bell, she stated that her brother had been suffering from mental illness for several years. She stated that the decedent had told her he wanted to kill himself by "suicide by cop". On the day of the incident, Jessica stated that the decedent had cut his own wrist and then sent her a text that stated, "Look j all I want you to do is call the cops and say I have a knife and about to kill someone I have on blue shorts blue tank top and white shoes please". Custodial Death Report :: Page 7 of 7