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Family Demands Answers After Fatal Police Shooting During Crisis
28 Aug
Summary
- 911 call for mental health crisis ends in tragedy
- Police fatally shoot man after he charges with a knife
- Family believes excessive force was used, plans legal action
On August 28, 2025, a tragic incident unfolded in Dallas, Texas, when a 911 call for a mental health crisis ended in a fatal police shooting. According to the article, Paul Benes says his younger brother, Martin Benes, a local attorney, was experiencing a mental health crisis and had been drinking and trying to hurt himself.
Police were called to the Benes' home on Tuesday evening, and initially, the situation seemed under control. Officers asked Martin to flicker the porch lights to indicate he was responsive, and he complied. However, the officers then decided to call in the SWAT team, and the situation escalated.
When the SWAT team arrived, a man, presumably Martin, charged at the officers with a knife. The officers retreated, and the man went back inside the house, barricading himself. The SWAT team then tried to take the man into custody, but he charged at them with the knife again, leading the officers to fatally shoot him.
Paul Benes believes the law enforcement involved used excessive force, stating that they "cornered him like an animal" and should have had a de-escalation specialist or medical professional on hand to talk him down instead of resorting to lethal force. The family now plans to hire an attorney to explore their legal options.
