Steven Rene Cortez

CUSTODIAL DEATH REPORT Agency Information CDR Number: 18-195-UF Version Type: AMENDED 10/25/2018 2:52 Report Date: Status: Submitted PM Agency/Facility Information Childress County Agency Name: Agency Address: 1005 Ave. F N.E Sheriff's Office Agency City: Childress Agency State: TX Agency Zip: 79201 Director Information Director Salutation: Sheriff Director First Name: Michael Director Middle Name: Director Last Name: Pigg Reporter Name: Danny Gillem Reporter Email: [email protected] Decedent Information Custodial Death Report :: Page 1 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- Identity of Deceased First Name: Steven Middle Name: Rene Last Name: Cortez Suffix: Date of Birth: 4/29/1997 Sex: Male Race: Hispanic or Latino Age At Time Of Death: 20 Date/Time of Custody (arrest, incarceration) (mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm AM/PM): Date/Time of Custody or 3/23/2018 12:36 Incident: AM Date/Time of Death (mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm AM/PM): 3/23/2018 12:54 Death Date and Time: 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) Homicide (includes Manner of Death: Justifiable Custodial Death Report :: Page 2 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- Homicide) Medical Cause of Death: Medical Cause of Death: Blood loss due to left lung injury from multiple gunshot wounds. There was also the presence of amphetamines and methamphetamine's in decedents blood test. Had the decedent been receiving treatment for the medical condition that caused the death after admission to your jail's jurisdiction? Medical Treatment: No 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 Custodial Death Report :: Page 3 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- Location / Custody Information Where did the event causing the death occur? Street Address: 1300 Ave F NW City: Childress County: Childress Zip: 79201 What location category best describes where the event causing the death occurred? Location Category: Business 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: Aggravated Assault on Public Servant-Deadly Weapon Offense 2: Evading Arrest with Motor Vehicle Offense 3: Possession of Firearm by Felon 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: Other, specify Type of Offense, Other: Obstruct Governmental Function 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 firearm Weapon Details: without discharge 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 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 N/A standoff?: arrested?: Physically attempt/assault Gain possession of officer's Yes No officer(s): weapon: Verbally threaten other(s) Escape or attempt to No 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 --- 1. On 3-23-2018 at approximately 12:15am the Childress Sheriff’s Office (CSO) was notified by the Hall County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) via telephone that there was a high speed chase southbound on U.S. 287 about to enter Hall County from Donley County. 2. At approximately 12:20am an HCSO unit and the Memphis Police (MPD) Chief, Chris Jolly radioed that the pursuit was traveling at speeds in excess of 130 mph and they were approaching the Newlin community still southbound on U.S. 287. 3. CSO Deputy Ray Perez, Chief Deputy Gillem and Sheriff Pigg were called out at approximately 12:25am. 4. The car, a 2009 white in color Mercedes Benz sedan bearing TX JWN-3476 was later reported to have been stolen at gunpoint from the Amarillo area. 5. At approximately 12:33am the Childress Police (CPD) successfully spiked the tires on the car as it crossed the FM 164 overpass. The car proceeded into Childress and was abandoned in the 1400 block of Ave F NW (U.S. 287). 6. The driver, who was later identified as STEVEN RENE CORTEZ fled on foot with a handgun and ran east through an alley. He ran to the Pak a Sak convenience store located in the 1300 block of Ave F NW and tried to enter the business, but was unable to because the business was closed. 7. At this time CSO Chief Deputy Gillem, Deputy Perez and CPD Sgt. L. Johnson, Officer Zuniga was within feet of the suspect. Gillem reported by radio that the suspect had placed his handgun to his head. 8. He then pulled it away and an pointed the handgun at the officers. Johnson, Perez, and Zuniga in a threatening manner. The officers fired their weapons striking the suspect multiple times. 9. Gillem then reported the suspect was down and then immediately stated that he was getting back up. More gunshots were fired and the suspect was down. 10. Gillem and Zuniga radioed for EMS. Childress EMS arrived at approximately 12:41am. 11. Sheriff Pigg arrived shortly afterwards and saw that EMS personnel were performing CPR on a Hispanic male who was laying on the ground face up on the west side of the store in the drive thru. He appeared to be unresponsive and was covered in blood. A semi-automatic pistol was seen on the ground near the suspect. 12. Sheriff Pigg asked EMS if he was deceased and was told that they had detected a faint pulse. He was transported by ambulance to the Childress Regional Medical Center (CRMC).He was later pronounced dead at the hospital. 13. Sheriff Pigg radioed dispatch and requested they notify Texas Rangers to respond to the shooting location. Texas Ranger Ricky "Bo" Brown arrived shortly thereafter and began his investigation. Several other Rangers were called to the scene by Brown. 14. Childress County Justice of the Peace Randy Rister was called to CRMC and pronounced the time of death at 12:54am ordered an autopsy of the body; the body was taken to Lubbock by Johnson’s Funeral Home of Childress for that autopsy. Custodial Death Report :: Page 7 of 7