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John Luther Stanford

Age : 39

Gender : Male

Race : White

Date : 08/31/2023

Location : FM 450

City : Harleton

County : Harleton

State : Texas

Agency : Texas Department of Public Safety

Officer(s) :Unknown

Cause of Death : Suicide

Event : Suicide under police duress

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

On 08/28/2023, at approximately 10:30 p.m., a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper conducted a traffic stop on John Luther Stanford, 39, on U.S. Highway 259 in Gregg County. Stanford continued driving away and the trooper pursued him for approximately 10 miles into Harrison County. The vehicle pursuit ended on FM 450 in the Harleton area.
Stanford stopped the vehicle, got out and ran into a wooded area while the DPS trooper pursued. DPS alleged that Stanford fired a handgun at the trooper as he ran. The trooper returned fire, resulting in an exchange of gunfire during the foot pursuit. Stanford continued farther into the wooded area.
Stanford was subsequently located dead in the woods. Initial DPS information described his death as occurring following the exchange of gunfire with the trooper, but a later DPS investigative report provided the crucial clarification that the trooper's gunfire did not kill Stanford. Investigators determined that Stanford sustained a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.kltv.com/2023/08/31/one-person-dead-officer-involved-shooting-harrison-county/
https://www.kltv.com/2023/09/13/texas-dps-report-shows-trooper-not-responsible-death-avinger-man-august-shooting/
https://www.gilmermirror.com/2023/08/31/texas-department-of-public-safety-officer-involved-shooting-harrison-county-8-28-23/
https://everloved.com/life-of/john-luther-stanford/obituary/