John Eric Seals

CUSTODIAL DEATH REPORT Agency Information CDR Number: 22-1850-C Version Type: AMENDED 10/3/2024 11:52 Report Date: Status: Submitted AM Agency/Facility Information Victoria Police Agency Name: Agency Address: 306 S. Bridge Dept. Agency City: Victoria Agency State: TX Agency Zip: 77901 Director Information Director Salutation: Chief Director First Name: Roberto Director Middle Name: Director Last Name: Arredondo Reporter Name: Charles Young Reporter Email: [email protected] Decedent Information Custodial Death Report :: Page 1 of 6 --- PAGE BREAK --- Identity of Deceased First Name: John Middle Name: Eric Last Name: Seals Suffix: Date of Birth: 6/8/1982 Sex: Male Race: Anglo or White Age At Time Of Death: 39 Date/Time of Custody (arrest, incarceration) (mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm AM/PM): Date/Time of Custody or 3/4/2022 5:22 AM Incident: Date/Time of Death (mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm AM/PM): Death Date and Time: 3/4/2022 5:22 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 6 --- PAGE BREAK --- Medical Cause of Death: Medical Cause of Death: Pending but the preliminary is: Self Inflicted gunshot wound 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: Not Applicable If death was an accident, homicide or suicide, who caused the death? Who caused the death?: Decedent 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 6 --- PAGE BREAK --- Where did the event causing the death occur? Street Address: 625 LCR 216 City: Hallettsville County: Lavaca Zip: 77964 What location category best describes where the event causing the death occurred? Location Category: Other, specify Other Location Category: gravel field on the south side of a community center 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 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 General Information Custodial Death Report :: Page 4 of 6 --- PAGE BREAK --- 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: Murder Offense 2: Offense 3: Were the Charges:: Filed 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 Discharged firearm Weapon Details: At any time during the incident and/or entry into the law enforcement facility, did the decedent: Attempt to Injure Others?: No At any time during the incident and/or entry into the law enforcement facility, did the decedent: Custodial Death Report :: Page 5 of 6 --- PAGE BREAK --- Appear intoxicated (alcohol or Yes Make suicidal statements?: Unknown drugs): Exhibit any mental health N/A Exhibit any medical problems?: Unknown 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 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 March 2, 2022, at approximately 11:25 p.m., Subject John Seals shot and killed Destinee Dawn Verno at 1204 Poplar Street Victoria Texas as reported on Victoria police report number 2022-001965. A murder warrant was secured for Seals' arrest for that murder offense. After the offense, Seals traveled by vehicle to a Lavaca county address, just outside of the city of Hallettsville, near where his mother lived. After a continuous search throughout the night for Seals, law enforcement officers located Seals the next morning shortly after 5:00 a.m., as Seals sat in his vehicle on the south side of the Shiloh Community Center. Law enforcement attempted to communicate with subject Seals as he sat in his pickup truck. As officers attempted to make contact with Seals, at 5:22 a.m., Seals shot himself in the chest with a handgun. The handgun used was the same caliber and type involved in the murder offense in Victoria Texas. After the shooting, first aid was administered with negative results. The Texas Rangers were contacted and assumed responsibility for the investigation. Custodial Death Report :: Page 6 of 6