Investigators are reviewing body-camera and surveillance footage after police killed a machete-wielding man during an early-morning confrontation.
GARLAND, Texas — A stretch of Broadway Boulevard was closed Sunday morning as Garland police investigated the fatal shooting of a man authorities said was armed with a machete and advanced toward officers after an extended negotiation.
The shooting near Broadway Boulevard and Colonel Drive prompted police to close northbound and southbound lanes while investigators processed the scene. The closure became the immediate public impact of an encounter that began with two separate 911 calls and ended after police said a less-lethal attempt failed to stop the armed man.
Police said the first call came at about 2:15 a.m. Sept. 7. A caller reported seeing a man holding a machete near a gas station at Broadway Boulevard and Colonel Drive. Officers responded but were unable to locate the man during that initial search.
A second 911 call came at about 3:20 a.m. and described a similar situation, according to police. Officers returned to the area and found the man. Authorities said officers then spent roughly 15 to 25 minutes trying to persuade him to put down the machete.
Police said the man eventually moved toward officers as they backed away and continued trying to negotiate with him. Officers deployed a stun gun as a less-lethal option, but authorities said it had no effect. The man continued swinging the machete and advancing while officers ordered him to drop it, police said.
Several officers then fired their weapons, according to the department’s preliminary account. First responders attempted life-saving aid at the scene before the man was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. No police officers were injured.
The man’s identity had not been released in the initial reports. Police also had not disclosed how many officers fired, the number of shots discharged or additional details about the circumstances that brought the man to the area before the first emergency call.
The officers who fired were placed on administrative leave in accordance with department protocol. Investigators are reviewing body-camera footage and surveillance recordings, evidence that could help clarify the sequence of events during the negotiations and immediately before the shooting.
The roadway closure allowed investigators to document the scene and gather evidence while the review continued. Police urged motorists to avoid the affected area during the closure. Initial reports did not establish when every lane would reopen.
The fatal shooting remained under investigation Sunday, with authorities expected to rely on video and other evidence as they develop a more complete account. No further identification or investigative findings had been publicly announced in the initial reports.
Author note: Last updated September 7, 2026.