BISD Police Officer Fatally Shoots Man

6 PM Story reported by Jennifer Heathcock:

A Jefferson County Justice of the Peace has identified the man shot and killed by a Beaumont school district police officer as 26 year old Matthew Scott Beckett.

In a written statement from the district, the BISD Police Chief says the officer had no other '"recourse but to pull his weapon and defend himself."

Neighbors and district officials say it was an alarming situation.

"Thought somebody was knocking on my window.  Heard three shots and thought someone was knocking on my window," says a neighbor, Raymond Witfield.

Raymond Witfield was sleeping around 8 this morning when he heard several gunshots just outside of his house.

"I was asleep and heard the shots.  I got up to go look," says Witfield.

He saw a Beaumont school district police officer,  and a man lying in the street.

The school district says Sergeant Don Gordon was making routine checks around the Paul Brown Center where he is assigned, and saw a fight at the corner of Pope and St. Helena.

"It was a sudden situation that occurred this morning and our officer reacted," says Beaumont ISD Assistant Superintendent Terry Ingram.

Terry Ingram, an assistant superintendent with BISD, says the officer tried to break up the fight and the man began attacking him. Sgt. Gordon used pepper spray, but Ingram says the man continued attacking.  The district says Sgt. Gordon had no choice but to shoot in order to defend himself.

"Assume he's a neighbor or someone from the community.  Don't have all the details, that's still under investigation," says Ingram.

A Justice of the Peace identified the man as 26 year old Matthew Scott Beckett of Beaumont.

According to Justice of the Peace Vi McGinnis, Beckett was shot twice, once in the chest and once in the abdomen.  Beckett died at Christus Hospital Saint Elizabeth.

Sgt. Gordon has more than 30 years of law enforcement experience, and has been with BISD police for the 2 years the department has been in operation.

"This is the first time for our department and we'll follow typical procedure.  He's a little shook up, but we'll get him counseling," says Ingram.

After the shooting, the Paul Brown Center and the Pathways School, about a block and a half away, were placed on lockdown.

Sgt. Gordon is on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation, which is standard procedure in such a case.

Reported Earlier:

A Beaumont ISD Police officer shot and killed a man who attacked him when the officer tried to break up a fight in the street near the Paul Brown Center, according to information provided to KFDM News by the Beaumont school district.

Justice of the Peace Vi McGinnis tells KFDM News the man who was shot and killed is Matthew Scott Beckett, 26, of Beaumont. She says he was shot once in the chest and once in the abdomen.  Witnesses told KFDM News they heard three shots. Judge McGinnis has ordered an autopsy, including toxicology tests.

Beaumont ISD has identified the officer who shot Beckett as Sgt. Don Gordon. Sgt. Gordon served more than 30 years with the Beaumont Police Department and has been a BISD Police Department officer since the inception of the department about two years ago. 

According to BISD, Sgt. Gordon had no choice but to pull his weapon and defend himself. Gordon has been placed on administrative leave, which is standard procedure in such a case.

Beaumont Police, BISD Police and EMS responded to a shooting victim in the street near the Paul Brown Center on Pope Street near St. Helena at about 8 a.m. Friday.

A Beaumont Fire Department dispatcher told KFDM News the victim received a gunshot wound to the chest and was transported to Christus Hospital St. Elizabeth.

Terry Ingram, BISD Assistant Superintendent, told KFDM News his understanding is that two men were fighting on Pope Street near St. Helena, near the west end of the campus. Ingram says it's his understanding BISD Police Sgt. Don Gordon is assigned to the school and was doing site patrol when he saw the altercation and intervened. Ingram says he's been told the attacker went after the officer and the officer first used pepper spray to stop the attack. Ingram says the attack continued and the officer pulled his gun and fired at the attacker. Witnesses told KFDM News they heard three shots.

The Paul Brown Center and Pathways, another school about a block and a half away, were placed on lockdown but school continues, according to Ingram.

Ingram says this is the first shooting involving an officer with the BISD Police Department.  Officer Gordon has more than 30 years in law enforcement and has been with the BISD Police Department since its inception two years ago.

The Jefferson County District Attorney's Office is leading the investigation. The Beaumont Police Department is assisting BISD Police.

George Beckett is a cousin of Matthew Beckett. He spoke with KFDM News by telephone Friday afternoon.

"We're trying to figure out what happened," said George Beckett. "It's a shock to hear what happened to him and what they're saying he did."

George Beckett says his cousin was a "good guy" but admitted he had some problems in his life. He said Matthew Beckett was released from prison in Huntsville in the past month or so on a drug charge.   

He told us his cousin is survived by his mother, father and a number of other relatives.

Watch Live at 5 and KFDM News at 6 & 10 for further details.