Police shoot man in Grand Prairie due to 911 dispatch error

In Grand Prairie, Texas, a man named Thomas Simpson was shot by police around 1:30 a.m. on a Thursday after a 911 dispatch error led officers to the wrong residence. The error occurred because the address of the caller was incorrectly auto-populated in the dispatch system. As Simpson, who was awakened by his barking dogs, opened his garage believing he was confronting burglars, he grabbed his firearm for self-defense. Upon recognizing that the individuals outside were police officers, he dropped his weapon, yet officers fired at him, striking his leg. The incident resulted in eight rounds being fired by police, causing damage to the garage and interior walls of Simpson’s home. Despite Simpson dropping his firearm immediately upon noticing the police badges, officers claimed he initially assumed a threatening stance and pointed his gun at them, prompting their response. Officers were in a well-lit area and indicated they had knocked on the door for approximately five minutes before Simpson emerged. Following the shooting, all five family members were detained for around four hours, including two children aged 13 and 16, who were handcuffed and placed in police vehicles. Simpson expressed frustration and intention to take legal action against the authorities, stating that the incident was mishandled and that it could have been avoided had proper procedures been followed. The Grand Prairie police confirmed their response was triggered by a disturbance call, but due to the dispatch error, Simpson was not involved in any reported activity. Although he received medical treatment and was released, the incident raised concerns about police protocols and the handling of situations involving firearms. Investigations are currently underway by both the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office and the Grand Prairie Police Department’s Office of Professional Standards, which is assessing the circumstance of the shooting and the potential charges against Simpson.