Paris Police officer shooting leaves wanted felon deceased

On March 8, 2024, at approximately 8:50 p.m., a Paris Police Officer responded to the Atwoods Store located at 2445 N. Main St. to investigate a report of a suspicious male who had been in a dressing room for over 30 minutes and would not respond to store employees who were preparing to close the store for the evening. The officer eventually persuaded 44-year-old Antonio Sessions of Greenville to exit the dressing room. As the officer attempted to detain Sessions for further investigation, he broke away and ran toward the store’s main exit. The officer pursued Sessions and temporarily subdued him.

As the officer re-attempted to restrain Sessions, he actively resisted arrest, and during a physical struggle with the officer, Sessions gained possession of the officer’s taser. Sessions then ran a short distance inside the store before turning and pointing the taser at the officer placing the officer in immediate danger of being incapacitated. The officer properly reacted, firing his duty weapon and hitting Sessions in the chest. Officers and Lamar County Deputies then administered life-saving first aid until medical EMTs arrived.

Sessions was subsequently transported to Paris Regional Regional Health by Ambulance where he later expired. Sessions, a convicted felon, was wanted out of Rockwall County for Assault on a Public Servant, Resisting Arrest and Drug charges. The Texas Rangers were contacted and responded to the scene to assume responsibility for the post-shooting investigation.

In accordance with Paris Police Department policy, the officer involved has been placed on administrative paid-leave pending an internal administrative review of this incident. Per the Texas Open Records Act, no additional information will be released until the Texas Rangers’ investigation has been adjudicated through the Lamar County District Attorney’s Office.