Dallas Police Fatally Shoot Armed Resident in Condominium Lobby

Barricaded man confirmed to be a resident of condo where shooting took place

Dallas police said they shot and killed a resident inside a luxury condominium complex after the man barricaded himself and fired at police officers.

The shooting occurred in the lobby of the Glass House by Windsor condominium complex at 3700 McKinnon Street around 1:45 a.m. Thursday, just blocks from American Airlines Center in Dallas.

The Dallas County Medical Examiners Office identified the suspect as 47-year-old Michael Edward Schmidt. NBC 5's Ray Villeda confirmed Schmidt is an attorney that is part of a law firm in Uptown Dallas, near the shooting scene. When reached by phone, the law firm said they had no comment on Schmidt's death.

Police said the incident began after the resident talked to an employee of the building.

”He reported to the employee that his apartment was being burglarized,” said Deputy Chief Gil Garza of the Dallas Police Department.

After that employee called for police, Schmidt reportedly moved to a hallway adjacent to the condominium's lobby and began barricading himself inside.

When officers arrived, they spoke to the employee and were informed of the Schmidt's location and that he was armed.

“According to the employee, the individual shot at officers when officers tried to speak with him.  The officers then retreated into cover.” Garza said.

Witnesses said Schmidt continued to intermittently fire shots while officers spoke to him from cover. A witness that heard the situation unfold from across the street said he believed the gunman fired a half-dozen shots at police during the shootout.

Garza said that Schmidt moved from his barricaded position and went toward the officers at some point during the incident. Police said it was at this time that the officers returned fire, striking and killing the man. Schmidt was pronounced dead at the scene.

The witness that spoke to NBC 5 said he believes officers fired back more than a dozen times, killing the man. Police did not confirm how many shots were fired by officers.

Dallas police confirm Schmidt's 11-year-old daughter was inside the apartment at the time of the shooting. She was located uninjured after the shooting and was released to the custody of relatives.

Evidence markers were visible along the street and were believed to be marking shell casings from weapons that were fired during the incident. Garza said the weapon believed to be used by the resident during the shootout was recovered at the scene and that an investigation continues.

The windows of the lobby were blown out by gunfire during the shooting and the witness told NBC 5's Kendra Lyn he could see a body near the front doors of the lobby following the shooting.

Police said no officers were injured in the incident.

Dallas Police Chief David Brown announced that the department continues to investigate the shooting. 

The officers involved in the shooting have been identified as officers Manual Ortiz, Robert Wilcox, Derreck Evangelista and Sgt. Jason Scoggins. All have been placed on administrative leave as the investigation continues.

Schmidt made headlines last year, after winning his client's family more than $10 million when a woman was run over by a monster truck.

NBC 5 learned that Schmidt had recently gone through a divorce. A relative tells the Dallas Morning News that Schmidt was a father of four, adding that he was sweet and generous but had recently had some problems.

Residents Surprised by Violent Confrontation

The front of Glass House is still taped off as a crime scene. Residents can come and go through the parking garage, but can’t access the lobby where the confrontation between police and the 47-year-old resident came to a deadly end.

“I heard a couple shots, woke up, and cop cars were out there,” said Grant Threadgill.

It's not how residents at Glass House, a luxury high-rise apartment complex in Uptown Dallas, are used to waking up.

“It’s pretty crazy. I chose this building because of the safety,” says Mini Hwang, Glass House resident.

“Death is always unfortunate.  I feel like the cops were probably protecting themselves,” said Threadgill.

"You don’t know what was going on with them, obviously something very traumatic,” said Allison Weiner, Glass House resident.

NBC 5's Ray Villeda contributed to this report.

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