A man who died the night of Sept. 23 in southwest Fort Worth was struck by an officer’s bullet but was killed by a self-inflicted gunshot wound , authorities said at an Oct. 4 news conference.
Fort Worth Police Chief Neil Noakes said the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office will make the final determination as to the manner of Brant Nickell’s death, but the police investigation — including footage from body cameras worn by the officers who responded — led them to believe he died by suicide.
“This is nothing short of an absolutely tragic situation,” Noakes said. “Obviously, it’s tragic and traumatic for the family and for the loved ones of this gentleman. It is also tragic and very traumatic for the officers that responded on the scene.”
Nickell, 58, called 911 around 6 p.m. and said he was armed and that he wanted to hurt or kill himself. He wasn’t asking for help — he just wanted to make sure police could find his body afterward, officials said.
Officers responded to the 4800 block of Selkirk Drive in seven minutes, but Nickell wasn’t where he said he would be.
They searched the area for about an hour, with a dispatcher pinging the man’s phone to help locate him, as his family called 911 to report concerns about his mental health. Noakes said it was a large-scale search with multiple officers involved.
Bodycam video shows an officer in his patrol vehicle talking over the radio with other officers in the area. Nickell’s Mazda had been located in a nearby parking lot, and the officer had seen Nickell in a drainage culvert. They needed to make sure he hadn’t gotten back in the car.
“I don’t want this to turn into something it doesn’t need to be,” the officer said. “We need to clear the car, but if we tip him off, then he could run, so I kind of want to clear it quietly.”
The officers’ bodycam video shows they approached Nickell with care. His vehicle was empty, and it appeared he was still in the drainage ditch. The officers spoke in low voices to each other as they planned their approach.
An officer addressed Nickell by his first name and spoke in a calm voice, asking Nickell to show his hands. The situation escalated almost immediately when Nickell pointed a handgun at the officers, Noakes said. An officer can be seen raising his weapon and instructing Nickell to “put that down.”
Two gunshots can be heard on the video as two officers fire their weapons. According to Noakes, one of the shots hit Nickell. An officer continues to instruct Nickell to “drop it.”
“Put your hands up, Brant! I don’t want to do it,” an officer yells.
A few seconds later another gunshot is heard on the video, and an officer asks, “Did he shoot or was that you?” Another officer responds that the shot came from inside the tunnel.
Nickell was dead when the officers reached him, and a gun was found in his right hand, police said. An official ruling on his cause and manner of death are still pending on the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s website.
Noakes said the three officers who responded to Nickell’s location had gone through crisis intervention training and either had already or were working toward becoming certified mental health peace officers. They did the right thing in approaching Nickell with care and intention and trying to deescalate the situation, he said.
“I’m begging anyone who either is experiencing some mental health challenges, or know someone who is to please get the help,” Noakes said.
Nickell’s family said he was a military veteran and a father and grandfather who leaves behind two children and three grandchildren.
If you or a loved one is experiencing a crisis or suicidal thoughts, there is help available. Call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988.
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