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Paul Rodriguez

Age : 57

Gender : Male

Race : Latino/a/e

Date : 08/07/2025

Location : Temple Police Department, 209 East Avenue A

City : Temple

County : Bell

State : Texas

Agency : Temple Police Department, Texas Rangers

Officer(s) :Not Disclosed

Cause of Death : Gunshot

Event : Killed by police during mental health crisis

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

On 08/07/2025 at approximately 9:09 p.m., Paul Rodriguez called the Bell County Communications Center and reported that he was outside the Temple Police Department and was not afraid to shoot himself. He repeatedly told dispatchers that he was "done," wanted police to shoot him, and said he was armed with a pistol. Officers responded to the front of the police department and began communicating with him.
During the approximately 11-minute encounter, Rodriguez held what appeared to be a handgun to his head while officers repeatedly attempted to de-escalate the situation and instructed him to drop the weapon. According to Temple police, Rodriguez lowered the weapon from his head and pointed it toward officers. Multiple officers fired their weapons, striking Rodriguez. Officers immediately rendered medical aid until Temple Fire & Rescue and EMS personnel arrived. Rodriguez was pronounced dead at the scene.
The weapon Rodriguez carried was later determined to be a UMAREX .177-caliber BB air pistol designed to closely resemble a real handgun. Temple police released photographs of the BB pistol during a subsequent update.
The Texas Rangers assumed the criminal investigation into the shooting. The Temple Police Department also opened an internal administrative investigation. Seven Temple police officers were placed on administrative leave in accordance with department policy pending completion of the investigations.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://city-of-temple.prowly.com/417993-texas-rangers-and-temple-police-department-investigates-officer-involved-shooting-suspect-deceased
https://www.tdtnews.com/news/central_texas_news/article_02763291-8fbb-4933-a4c7-65a5b6253fa2.html