A man armed with a sharp object was shot to death by a Fort Worth police officer on Thursday evening, March 12, 2026, on U.S. 287. TxDOT said the highway was closed to traffic after the shooting.
Fousia Abdullahi
Star-Telegram
A man with a sharp object in his hand who ran toward a Fort Worth police officer was fatally shot by the officer on U.S. 287 on Thursday afternoon, police said.
The officer was driving north on 287 near East Maddox Avenue shortly after 4 p.m. when he saw the man leaning over a bridge while holding an object, the Fort Worth Police Department said in a news release.
The officer stopped to check on the man and noticed that the object was sharp, and the man then started to cut himself on the neck, according to the release. When the officer got out of his car, the man ran toward him and the officer fired his gun, police said.
Police Chief Eddie Garcia told reporters at the scene that the object the man had appeared to be a broken bottle.
Officers provided medical aid and Fire Department medics were called to help, but the man was pronounced dead at about 4:28 p.m. He will be identified by the medical examiner.
During the incident, multiple people called 911 to report seeing the man on the bridge with glass in his hand that he was using to cut his neck, according to the release. One caller reported that the man appeared to be trying to jump off the bridge and reported seeing the man run toward the officer before he was shot, police said.
Detectives with the Major Case Unit and Internal Affairs are investigating the shooting. The officer who shot the man is a six-year veteran of the department assigned to the central patrol division.
The officer was not injured, Garcia said.
Police presence at E Maddox and Hwy 287. Both directions- expect delays/closures.
Please seek alternate routes. https://t.co/yhwWYGwgY8
— Fort Worth Police (@fortworthpd) March 12, 2026
“Please keep in mind that the details in this incident are preliminary and we will share further information once it is available,” police officials said in the release.
All lanes of northbound and southbound U.S. 287 near Mitchell Boulevard were closed to traffic near the scene, according to the Texas Department of Transportation. Drivers were asked to avoid the area and seek alternate routes.
This story was originally published March 12, 2026 at 5:45 PM.
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Fousia Abdullahi is a Fort Worth Star-Telegram news reporter who covers suburban cities including Southlake, Colleyville, Grapevine and Keller. She enjoys reading and attending local events. Send tips by email or phone.