Matthew Thomas Cruz

CUSTODIAL DEATH REPORT Agency Information ORIGINAL CDR Number: 26-425-UF Version Type: VERSION Report Date: 5/29/2026 7:31 AM Status: Submitted Agency/Facility Information Office of the Agency Name: Agency Address: PO BOX 12548 Attorney General Agency City: Austin Agency State: TX Agency Zip: 78711 Director Information Director Salutation: Director Director First Name: Brent Director Middle Name: Director Last Name: Dupre Reporter Name: Cody Smirl Reporter Email: [email protected] Decedent Information Custodial Death Report :: Page 1 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- Identity of Deceased First Name: Matthew Middle Name: Thomas Last Name: Cruz Suffix: Date of Birth: 5/2/1990 Sex: Male Race: Anglo or White Age At Time Of Death: 36 Date/Time of Custody (arrest, incarceration) (mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm AM/PM): Date/Time of Custody or 5/5/2026 9:15 AM Incident: Date/Time of Death (mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm AM/PM): Death Date and Time: 5/5/2026 10:46 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 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: Justifiable gunshot 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 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? 15420 Northcreek Street Address: City: Fort Worth Road Apt 4112 County: Denton Zip: 76177 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: 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 7 --- 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: Indecency With a Child Sexual Contact - Warrant Execution 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) Crimes Against Type of Offense: Child(ren) 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: Brandished knife 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) Custodial Death Report :: Page 5 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- Ways Decedent Attempted To Attempted to injure Injure Others: law enforcement 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 Yes Yes 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: Officers of the Arlington Fugitive Unit Apprehension Team arrived at the residence of Matthew Thomas Cruz to attempt to serve a confirmed warrant of arrest for the offense of Indecency with a Child out of the Justin Police Department. Officers obtained a key to the residence from apartment complex management and attempted to make entry into the residence while verbally announcing their legal justification and law enforcement purpose. An additional interior deadbolt lock was utilized from inside the residence alerting officers that someone was inside the apartment and had locked the door from the inside. Officers utilized assigned breaching equipment to gain access to the apartment while verbally announcing their lawful authority and wearing issued ballistic vests that clearly donned insignia of "STATE POLICE". Once inside the apartment officers continued to verbally announce their lawful authority with no response. While searching the Custodial Death Report :: Page 6 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- residence Lieutenant Chris Webb observed the fugitive's reflection in the bathroom mirror. Fugitive Cruz was standing in the bathtub with his right arm obscured from view by the shower curtain. Officers gave loud verbal commands for fugitive Cruz to show his hands to which Cruz initially complied. Fugitive Cruz was given verbal commands to exit the bathtub and walk out of the bathroom. Fugitive Cruz eventually started to comply with the officer's verbal commands to exit the bathtub and walk out of the bathroom. Once in the bathroom doorway fugitive Cruz stopped complying with officer's verbal commands to come out of the bathroom. Fugitive Cruz stopped in the bathroom doorway placing his hands on the door frame. As officers moved closer in proximity to fugitive Cruz to take him into custody, fugitive Cruz took a step back and reached into his pants pocket. Fugitive Cruz brandished and opened a folding knife and took a fighting stance. Lieutenant Chris Webb shouted "Knife!" to warn his other officers that fugitive Cruz had brandished a weapon and it was his belief that fugitive Cruz was attempting to utilize the knife to kill the officers. In self-defense and defense of the other officer's lives, both Lieutenant Chris Webb and Sergeant Ivan Bozovic discharged their service weapons striking Cruz. Once officer's neutralized the immediate threat, Lieutenant Webb utilized his issued police radio to request an ambulance for medical treatment for fugitive Cruz as well as informing officers outside of the residence what had occurred. Sergeants Ray Mullikin and Sergeant Daniel Avalos immediately began medical treatment for fugitive Cruz. Lieutenant Webb informed his commanding officers what had occurred and notified the Texas Rangers of an officer involved shooting and requested they respond to the scene for an investigation. Fugitive Cruz was pronounced dead at the scene and an autopsy is pending for official cause and manner of death results. Custodial Death Report :: Page 7 of 7