BROWNSVILLE – Police shot and killed a 20-year-old man early Monday morning after he rammed several squad cars while leading officers on a chase, authorities said.
The Brownsville Police Department identified the deceased as Mark Anthony Galvan.
Officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Galvan in connection with an assault call when they said he led police on a chase at approximately 1:34 a.m.
Police Spokeswoman Melissa Gonzalez declined to identify the make and model of the vehicle Galvan was driving and did not identify the officer or officers who shot Galvan, or how many shots the officers fired.
The Texas Rangers arrived at the scene and are conducting the investigation.
On Monday morning, police blocked off Boca Chica Boulevard from Barnard Street to Old Alice Road until approximately 9:30 a.m.
Medical Street, which is a residential street that doesn’t have an outlet, was closed off until approximately 11:30 a.m. as police continued to investigate.
Cameron County District Attorney Luis V. Saenz was spotted at the scene at around 10:30 a.m., along with Chief Investigator George Delaunay.
While police released few details about the shooting, residents who live on Medical Street recounted awaking to gunfire and police sirens early Monday morning.
Rafael Cisneros said he grabbed his own weapon for protection when he heard the gunshots, but when he went outside he saw officers in trouble when nearly a dozen more police cars arrived in front of his house shortly thereafter.
“They were very close to my house,“ Cisneros said.
Cisneros said the vehicle police say Galvan was driving went down Medical Street and turned around at the dead end before hitting two police car.
He said the vehicle took a right on Boca Chica and caught on fire.
“I heard they took him out, but he was dead,“ Cisneros said, adding that he thought the man crashed into a pole.
Police transported Galvan to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Orange markings and debris could still be seen on Boca Chica Monday morning.
Maria Zuniga, who also lives on Medical Street, said she saw two police cars that had been hit in front of her house: one in the road and another in her neighbor’s driveway across the street from her house.
“There were lots of gunshots,“ Zuniga said. “I opened the door and there was nothing but cops.“
Zuniga couldn’t recall how many gunshots she heard, but said she counted 20 yellow cards by the two squad cars. Police crime scene investigators use the yellow cards as evidence markers.
Cisneros said he thought he heard three gunshots, but wasn’t sure.
