The man who died Jan. 2 after being shot during a foot pursuit with local authorities has been identified in a Custodial Death Report posted by state officials as 43-year-old Randy Wayne Tadlock.
The report summary for the death restated the public information release distributed to local media on Jan. 3:
Officers with the Sulphur Springs Police Department and Hopkins County Sheriff’s Department responded to the area of Holiday Drive in Sulphur Springs, Texas in reference to an individual that had a handgun and was threatening to do harm to himself and others. The complainant stated that after making these threats, the individual left the area on foot. A short time later, officers located the individual in a vehicle in a parking lot located at 1233 South Broadway Street. When confronted, the individual then fled from the vehicle on foot with the handgun. Officers gave pursuit and later the individual pointed the handgun at the officers and a Sulphur Springs Police Officer fired his duty weapon, striking the individual. The individual later succumbed to his injuries.
Local authorities have referred all requests for any further information to the Rangers. The police officer who fired his weapon was placed on administrative leave during the Rangers’ investigation.
Reports from the scene Monday night, Jan. 2, 2023, were that man who’d made threats with the firearm had begun running toward South Broadway Street, with officers in pursuit. Responding officers reported gunshots were fired, then, that one person was injured, according to initial reports Monday evening from the scene.
Officers reportedly administered first aid until EMS and fire department personnel arrived at the South Broadway Street address. The man was was pronounced deceased by Justice of the Peace BJ Teer, with the man’s time of death listed as 6:06 p.m., four minutes after the listed time of incident, in the CDR.
South Broadway Street from Lee Street to Industrial Drive were closed to traffic for more than 3 hours Jan. 3 while officials began the investigative process.
The death was investigated by Texas Rangers out of Garland. The CDR required in a police-involved shooting was then submitted to the state.
The state report lists the manner of death as “Homicide (includes Justifiable Homicide).” Cause was listed as gunshot wounds caused by “Law enforcement/correctional personnel.” A handgun was listed as the cause of death.
According to the Custodial Death Report, Tadlock was a felon in possession of a firearm and evading arrest or detention at the time of his death. Officers had attempted to contact him due to the prior complaint of “Violent Crime Against Persons; Medical / Mental Health assistance call.” He was alleged in the report to have displayed a firearm, without discharging it, to have attempted to injure others, including law enforcement personnel responding at the location. The CDR was submitted to the state Friday afternoon, Jan. 6, 2023, according to the report.
Funeral services for 43-year-old Randy Tadlock of Lone Oak were held Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023, in Wolfe City, with interment in Ladonia. Tadlock had worked in the construction business. He is survived by his father, five children and one sister.
