Authorities have identified the man who died following a police-involved shooting Sunday afternoon at North Lakes Park. The Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed the victim as 25-year-old Adrian Edward Guevara, a resident of Denton. Officials ruled his death a homicide caused by gunshot wounds.
According to the Denton Police Department, officers were called around 12:10 p.m. Sunday to the Denton Tennis and Pickleball Center located inside the park. Authorities said multiple 911 callers requested a welfare check on a man who appeared intoxicated, was holding a metal rod, and had reportedly climbed a fence in the area, raising safety concerns for people nearby.
Police said that when officers arrived, they encountered Guevara and attempted to assess the situation. Authorities allege that Guevara began threatening officers and later charged toward them while holding the metal rod. Officers reportedly attempted verbal de-escalation to calm the situation and prevent it from escalating further.
During the encounter, one officer deployed a Taser in an attempt to stop Guevara, but police said it had no effect. Moments later, a second officer discharged their firearm, striking Guevara. Emergency responders quickly transported him to Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Denton, where he was later pronounced dead at 1:14 p.m.
Following department policy, the officer who fired the weapon has been placed on administrative leave while the incident is investigated. The case is currently being reviewed by the department’s internal affairs unit as well as the Texas Rangers. Acting Police Chief Tony Salas stated that an initial review suggests the use of deadly force appears to be within department policy, though the investigation is still ongoing.
Officials also confirmed that Guevara had previous interactions with Denton police dating back to 2019. Records show he was arrested in 2024 for retaliation against an officer, though authorities said that incident involved different officers and was unrelated to Sunday’s events. Investigators have not yet released body camera footage, and officials say more information will be shared as the investigation continues.
