x
Breaking News
More () »

Police identify man shot, killed at Waco apartments in SWAT situation turned officer-involved shooting

Officials said Alva Stem, Jr., 65, was the man killed by a suspect at the Rex-Plex apartment complex Tuesday morning.

WACO, Texas — Police identified the man who was shot and killed by the shooting suspect during a SWAT situation at a Waco apartment complex on Aug. 3.

The Waco Police Department said 65-year-old Alva Stem, Jr. was the man who was shot twice in the abdomen at the Rex-Plex apartment complex, located at 701 Rambler Dr. 

The suspect in the incident was shot and killed by police, leaving nine officers on administrative leave following the incident, which turned into a SWAT situation in Waco. 

Chief of Police Sheryl Victorian said officers received a call about a shooting around 10:07 a.m.

Victorian said they were told a man was shot by a shotgun.

When officers arrived at the complex, they learned that the suspect of the shooting barricaded himself inside an apartment and that he was armed, Victorian said.

SWAT and negotiators also responded to the incident.

As SWAT was getting situated, the suspect came out of the complex and reportedly shot his weapon, causing at least nine officers to fire back, Victorian said.

"[He] demonstrated he was a threat, as he already shot someone," Victorian said.

The suspect was struck and moving, she said. Once the officers were able to reach the suspect, they started performing live-saving measures, Victorian said.

Police located a 12-gauge shotgun at the scene, as well as a weapon on the suspect's person, she said.

Both the suspect and Stem died, she said.

At this time, police do not know how the two people were connected and do not know a motive.

Victorian said the nine officers were placed on administrative leave while the Texas Rangers investigate this shooting.

At one point during the incident, police knocked down the door of a nearby apartment that was struck by bullets, a resident told 6 News.

"Anytime there are multiple rounds fired... one happens to go into a window or door, we want to immediately get into that location to determine if anyone had been injured. That's what our officers were doing. And thank god nobody was in there... and that [the resident] was not injured."

That's where Demond Stround's apartment comes into play. Police knocked down his door to see if anyone was hit by a stray bullet.

"Luckily me and my kids wasn't at home and I wasn't there, no major issues," said Stroud. "Good thing I wasn't there cause there's no telling what would've happened if I had been at home."

Stroud tells 6 News he lives in the unit next to the suspect who was shot by police and he's never had any issues before with him or his apartment complex.

"Been here three years never had no really big problems, nothing like that," he says. "I'm real shocked about what happened, but it kind of got me hesitated like next things I need to find somewhere else to stay."

Thankful and lucky to share his story and hopes to move on with little-to-no damage other than his door.

"Kind of made me nervous, a little scared a little bit," Stround added. "Long as they got the suspect and everything is taken care of then I feel like it's going to be OK."

Victorian said this is an isolated incident and there is no threat to the public.

Investigators cleared the scene around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Before You Leave, Check This Out