The family of a Texas man who was holding a knife when he was shot and killed by a police officer in June released video of the shooting this week, saying it shows that Randall Waddel was attempting to flee and was not threatening the officer or bystanders when he was shot.

Waddel – who had been diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder and was legally intoxicated at the time – was chased at gunpoint through the store and did not respond to commands from the officer to drop the knife before he was shot, according to video and witness accounts.  

“My brother walked all the way around and tried to avoid (the officer) at all costs,” said Waddel’s sister, Joyce Conner. “Never one time did he hold up the knife. Not one time.”

Conner said she doesn’t believe the 49-year-old Waddel behaved in a way that should have resulted in the officer shooting him. 

“He had no lawful reason to shoot my brother,” Conner said. “(Waddel) was mentally ill and scared.” 

A grand jury declined to pursue criminal charges against the officer, 47-year-old Christopher Brown, an eight-year veteran of the Weatherford, Texas police force. 

Weatherford Police Chief Mike Manning said he believes Brown handled the situation appropriately.

Manning declined to discuss the specifics of the shooting because the family has indicated they plan to sue the department. 

Paramedics were initially called around 11 a.m. on June 23 to a business where Waddel, who was walking along South Main Street, fell in a parking lot.  

After Waddel refused to go to the hospital, paramedics, believing Waddel to be intoxicated and unfit to continue walking along the roadway, called police, according to a Texas Ranger report. 

Waddel pulled out an unopened pocket knife and pushed past the medics, witnesses said. 

As he walked toward David’s Western Store, Waddel opened the knife, the paramedics reported. 

As Waddel entered the business holding the knife behind him, several employees fled out a back door. 

The surveillance video shows that Waddel walked behind a sales counter and stood for a moment holding the knife, head down and rocking for several seconds. 

Brown, who had been told en route that the possibly intoxicated subject was becoming combative and had a knife in his possession, then entered the business and drew his gun as he began chasing Waddel across the store.

According to the Texas Ranger investigation report, witnesses reported that Brown repeatedly ordered Waddel to drop the knife.

As Waddel ran down an aisle and approached the front door of the store, Brown ran in front of Waddel and shot him as Waddel neared the officer and turned toward the door, the video shows. 

Waddel was struck by the first bullet on the right side of his chest and then a second bullet that went into his side, according to the autopsy report. 

The officer said in a written statement that he believed Waddel would cut or stab him if he did not stop him. 

After viewing the surveillance video, Texas Ranger Tony Bradford noted that Waddel’s actions “could be interpreted by an observer to be an attempt to flee the store rather than an attempt to attack or injure Officer Brown.” 

At least one witness appeared to hold that view of the shooting, according to Bradford’s report. 

However, Bradford determined that Brown made the decision to fire while Waddel was still coming down the aisle toward him.

Bradford also noted a prior incident in March 2015 where Waddel ran from Weatherford police while armed with a knife. Waddel was detained, put the knife away and voluntarily went to the hospital for a mental health evaluation. 

Waddel was significantly hearing impaired and had been fitted for hearing aids that week, according to family members. However, Waddel’s boss, who described Waddel as quiet, mild-mannered and “a little slow,” told Bradford that he did not notice a hearing issue while interacting with him in the previous three months. 

Waddel had previously been involuntarily committed to a mental hospital, causing him to lose his home, Waddel’s brother, Richard Waddel, previously told the Weatherford (Texas) Democrat.

Family members speculated that Waddel may have feared authorities were going to take him away again and he would lose his job and other recent gains.

“What I’m wanting to do is have officers better trained to deal with the mentally ill,” Conner said. 

Manning said that is something his department is currently focusing on. 

“The mental health issue is going to do nothing but get worse because of the funding cuts that occurred in mental health services,” Manning said.

Coyne writes for the Weatherford (Texas) Democrat.