SAN MARCOS, Texas — A man who was shot and killed on Thursday night in San Marcos after reportedly threatening people with a knife has been identified.
According to the San Marcos Police Department and the Texas Rangers, a call came in around 9:30 p.m. Thursday when two men said another man was following them and threatening them with two large knives.
Officers said they later found someone matching the man's description about an hour later at a convenience store. The man, identified as 22-year-old Malachi Williams, started running when officers tried to stop him with a Taser but were unsuccessful.
Williams then allegedly ran with a knife toward a business with people inside, when officers shot him. He was taken to the hospital where he later died.
Next of kin have been notified. The shooting remains under investigation by the Texas Rangers, the San Marcos Police Department and the SMPD Office of Professional Conduct.
Following the incident, advocacy group Mano Amiga released a statement:
"We are horrified to learn that an officer with the San Marcos Police Department took the life of 22-year-old Malachi Williams Thursday evening.
"We believe that many facts about the killing have yet to come to light, including unconfirmed reports that Williams may have been stealing food, just trying to survive. It is also unclear why a taser was not deployed successfully; did the officer miss and then immediately draw his gun? Is a person dead due to this officer's incompetency with less lethal weapons? Our hearts go out to the victim, their loved ones, and all bystanders who witnessed this traumatic event.
"As a reminder of the special protections afforded to San Marcos police, the officers responsible for this killing get to wait 2 sleep cycles before they are questioned about the event and will also have the opportunity to review all of the evidence with an attorney beforehand. Ordinary civilians do not receive these same protections.
"It is not just for police to act as the judge, jury, and executioner, and we once again question why an officer had to resort to deadly force on a community member."
This is the third time authorities have shot a suspect this week in Central Texas. On Saturday, officers with the Austin Police Department shot a man following a physical disturbance. Another suspect was then killed on Wednesday following a chase in southwest Austin.