Eric Michael Watkins

CUSTODIAL DEATH REPORT Agency Information ORIGINAL CDR Number: 25-368-UF Version Type: VERSION Report Date: 5/13/2025 4:29 PM Status: Submitted Agency/Facility Information Agency Name: Justin Police Dept. Agency Address: PO BOX 129 Agency City: Justin Agency State: TX Agency Zip: 76247 Director Information Director Salutation: Chief Director First Name: Brian Director Middle Name: Director Last Name: Frieda Reporter Name: Brian Frieda Reporter Email: [email protected] Decedent Information Identity of Deceased Custodial Death Report :: Page 1 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- First Name: Eric Middle Name: Michael Last Name: Watkins Suffix: Date of Birth: 7/29/1970 Sex: Male Race: Anglo or White Age At Time Of Death: 54 Date/Time of Custody (arrest, incarceration) (mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm AM/PM): Date/Time of Custody or 4/27/2025 7:39 PM Incident: Date/Time of Death (mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm AM/PM): Death Date and Time: 4/27/2025 8:07 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 Evaluation?: pending 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: Official report pending to this agency, however, upon reviewing a series of videos, it appears that the cause of death was the introduction of two rounds of 223 caliber rifle rounds to the chest. Had the decedent been receiving treatment for the medical condition that caused the death after admission to your jail's jurisdiction? Medical Treatment: Unknown 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 Rifle/shotgun 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: 102 Daisy Lane City: Justin County: Denton Zip: 76247 What location category best describes where the event causing the death occurred? Location Category: Other, specify Other Location Category: Front, side yard at gate entrance to the backyard. 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: Custody of Law Enforcement Personnel 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? Death Location: Scene of incident Custodial Death Report :: Page 4 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- General Information Did any other law enforcement agencies respond to calls for service related to this incident? Other Agencies Respond?: Yes 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: Violation Bond Restrictions Offense 2: Evading with Motor Vehicle Offense 3: Aggravated Assault with Deadly Weapon 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) Violent Crime Type of Offense: Against Persons 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: Unknown caliber rifle. 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: Yes (select all that 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 Unknown Make suicidal statements?: No drugs): Exhibit any mental health Unknown 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 No No officer(s): weapon: Verbally threaten other(s) Escape or attempt to Yes Yes 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: Custodial Death Report :: Page 6 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- On the date referenced the Justin Police Department observed a subject known to the an officer to have bond restrictions related to domestic issues, and had displayed a knife to threaten and to destroy his common law spouse's car and was found to be wearing ballistic armor when taken into custody in a prior event that had recently taken place. The courts had placed bond restrictions upon Watkins, however, Watkins consistently violated said conditions, keeping former partner in a heightened state of concern. Watkins family members kept others aware of his location as best they could, however, reports were received from them that Watkins was trying to get them to get him a gun, but they refused. It was earlier on the 27th it was learned that a family member of Watkins reported that a firearm turned up missing and wanted law enforcement and Watkins former partner to know that he was on the move again and had a rifle. It was later in the evening of the 27th of April that Officer M. Wheeler had just completed a close patrol of the neighborhood where Daisy Lane is located, as he sat stationary just east of the entrance of the subdivision and Highway 407 officer Wheeler observed the subject Watkins and still operating his Honda pickup make a left hand turn into the subdivision thereby violating the bond conditions issued by the courts. Officer Wheeler then began following the vehicle and requested dispatch to to confirm the bond conditions, it was during this period of time Watkins committed a traffic violation and conditions were confirmed that officer Wheeler attempted to contact Watkins via a traffic stop away from the primary residence, however, Watkins continued to elude, he then pulled nose first into a driveway of a residence on the left side of the street, at which time officer Wheeler began instructing Watkins to stop moving the vehicle and to put his hands out the window, then to turn the vehicle off. Watkins however refused to comply with the instructions being given, finally fearing that Watkins might attempt to flee yet again officer Wheeler relocated to the passenger side of his unit while continuing to give Watkins instructions, it was at that time that Watkins charged towards the patrol unit narrowly missing the driver side of the unit. Officer Wheeler conveyed to dispatch and other officers what had just taken place and began to pursue Watkins again, officer Wheeler pulled into the driveway of 102 Daisy Lane just behind Watkins and saw him run into the backyard closing the gate behind him, at that time officer Wheeler advised one of the Troopers where Watkins had gone and asked the Trooper to go around to the back. Officer Wheeler then retrieved his patrol rifle and charged it, he then began to check the right side of the front yard and then after not seeing any movement proceeded to cross over the front of the residence located at 102 Daisy Lane and approached a corner wall at the garage, there Wheeler observed Watkins through the windows in the backyard holding a rifle. After a short while officer Wheeler observed Watkins leaving the backyard towards the side yard and gate that he had used to enter the backyard, at that time Wheeler relocated to the passenger rear of his patrol unit and as Watkins emerged from the the backyard Wheeler began providing Watkins with instructions to drop the rifle several times, however, Watkins did not comply with officer Wheelers instructions and instead of dropping the rifle Watkins raised the rifle in a manner placing Officer Wheeler and several residents in their front yards in fear of serious bodily injury or death, it was at that time officer Wheeler was forced to fire three consecutive rounds, two of which struck Watkins in the chest, while one missed Watkins and was later located by Denton County Evidence Technion's. Officer Wheeler and a Trooper approached cautiously due to the history of Watkins being in possession of ballistic armor once upon Watkins the rifle in his possession was placed away from reach and the officer's began providing life saving measures, however, these and efforts by EMS personnel and Emergency Room staff were unable prevent Watkins passing. This agency immediately notified the Texas Rangers and the Denton County Crime Scene Unit for assistance in this matter, all media request were re-directed to the Texas Department of Public Safety, officer Wheeler provided a blood specimen per policy and was subsequently placed on paid administrative leave for the time being. Any further information related to this incident really should be sought via the Texas Rangers Office, Ranger J. Wallace. Nothing further. Brian Frieda, BAAS, LCC# 42 Chief of Police City of Justin Police Department Custodial Death Report :: Page 7 of 7