(Use the video link above to watch a replay of Chief Stevens)
At approximately 2:30 a.m. this morning [Tuesday], Lubbock Police received a call of a shoplifter at Wal-Mart off the South Loop and Quaker. When the police officer arrived, he located a security guard following the suspect’s vehicle in the parking lot.
The officer attempted to stop the vehicle, a blue Volkswagen Beetle, but the suspect refused to stop. The officer initiated his lights and sirens and called dispatch with the vehicle information. As the officer continued to follow the suspect in the parking lot, dispatch responded saying the vehicle was reported stolen yesterday (Case #16-40405).
Moments later, the suspect left the parking lot and headed east on the access road at a high rate of speed. He traveled past Indiana Avenue and entered South Loop 289.
With speeds reaching over 130 mph at times, the officer was unable to safely shorten the gap between him and the suspect, but he never lost sight of the vehicle.
We believe the suspect took the first East 19th Street exit and traveled on the access road for a short distance. As the officer took the second East 19th Street exit, he noticed a cloud of dust and slowed down to a stop. Prior to the officer exiting the Loop, the suspect had lost control of the vehicle causing it to leave the road and flip multiple times. The suspect was ejected and pronounced deceased at the scene. Next of kin was notified, and the suspect was identified as 20-year-old Shane Warren.
As accident investigators combed the scene, they discovered a backpack filled with what is believed to be stolen merchandise.
During the pursuit, other officers responded to Wal-Mart in reference to the theft (Case# 16-40418). Police were advised that two other people had come to the store with Warren.
Both Kristy West and Leon Smith were arrested on outstanding warrants and booked into the Lubbock County Jail.
Accident Investigators will continue to investigate the fatal crash while an internal investigation will review the pursuit to ensure all proper protocols and procedures were followed.
We will continue to provide updates as new information becomes available.
(Press release from Lubbock Police Department)
