Justin Lee Crouch and Two Distressed Bystanders Caught in Tense Confrontation During Officer-Involved Shooting Outside Georgia Street Walmart in Amarillo, Texas
AMARILLO, TEXAS — A tense and ultimately tragic confrontation unfolded late Saturday morning in the parking lot of the Walmart on Georgia Street in Amarillo, leaving 35-year-old Justin Lee Crouch and two emotionally distressed bystanders at the center of a dramatic officer-involved incident that has once again thrust questions of policing, mental health response, and public safety into the spotlight.
According to the Amarillo Police Department, the incident began as a routine welfare check, prompted by concerned citizens who reported seeing a man slumped over in the driver’s seat of a parked vehicle. Witnesses described the man—later identified as Justin Lee Crouch, a resident of Amarillo—as unresponsive, and potentially in medical distress. Officers arrived at the scene just before 11:00 a.m., initially approaching the vehicle in an attempt to render aid. What began as a medical call, however, soon escalated into a high-stakes, chaotic situation that ended in gunfire.
Sequence of Events: From Welfare Check to Gunfire
Responding officers say they observed Justin Lee Crouch unconscious inside a gray Dodge sedan, which was idling in the far northeast corner of the Walmart parking lot. Dashcam and body-worn camera footage, which has yet to be released publicly, reportedly captured the unfolding events. According to police reports, officers knocked on the window, received no response, and then opened the door in order to assess Crouch’s condition.
Moments after making contact, the tone of the encounter shifted. Police allege that Crouch suddenly became combative, allegedly reaching toward the center console in a rapid motion. Officers believed he might be attempting to access a weapon. One officer shouted commands, while another drew his service weapon. Seconds later, at least three shots were fired.
Witnesses in the vicinity described the atmosphere as terrifying and confusing. Two visibly distressed bystanders, who had been loading groceries into a nearby vehicle, reportedly dropped to the ground and took cover. One of them, an elderly man in his seventies, was later treated by EMS on scene for a minor head injury sustained while ducking for cover. The second bystander, described as a young mother with a toddler, was visibly shaken but physically unharmed.
Who Was Justin Lee Crouch?
Friends and family of Justin Lee Crouch have described him as a man struggling with mental health and substance abuse issues, yet someone who remained deeply loved by his community. His mother, Karen Crouch, spoke briefly outside the family home, describing her son as “a complicated soul who didn’t deserve to end like this.”
“He needed help,” she said, holding back tears. “He was trying. He’d been in rehab, and he was trying to stay clean. But he was scared all the time. Scared of the world, scared of himself. I just wish someone had talked to him instead of shooting.”
Justin had a history of mental health challenges and had been under outpatient care with a local behavioral health clinic. According to family, he had been living in his car intermittently and may have relapsed in the days leading up to the shooting.
Police Account and Early Findings
During a press conference held Saturday evening, Amarillo Police Chief Martin Birkenstock stated that officers followed protocol based on their training and the perceived threat. “Our officers were called to check on a man who appeared unresponsive. What happened afterward was a tragic escalation of a rapidly developing situation,” he said. “Based on preliminary evidence, officers believed the individual was reaching for a weapon. We recovered a replica handgun in the center console, which at first glance appears indistinguishable from a real firearm.”
He added that the Texas Rangers have been called in to conduct an independent investigation, and that the officers involved have been placed on administrative leave pending a full internal review. Chief Birkenstock emphasized that the department is committed to transparency and pledged to release bodycam footage “at the appropriate time.”
Emotional and Psychological Impact on Bystanders
While no one else was physically injured by gunfire, the two nearby witnesses remain deeply affected. The elderly man, who asked not to be named, said the experience left him “paralyzed with fear.” He described seeing police with guns drawn, shouting, and then hearing the shots ring out. “I thought I was going to have a heart attack,” he said. “This is Amarillo. Things like this don’t happen here in broad daylight at Walmart.”
The young woman and her child were escorted to safety by store employees. According to one Walmart worker, she was “crying uncontrollably” and had to be taken inside for care. A counselor from the local trauma response team met with her later that day to provide emotional support.
Community Reaction: Anger, Grief, and Calls for Change
As news of the incident spread, public reaction has been swift and impassioned. On Sunday, a group of approximately 75 people gathered outside the Amarillo Civic Center for a candlelight vigil in honor of Justin Lee Crouch. Among those in attendance were members of local advocacy groups including Voices for Justice Amarillo and Panhandle Harm Reduction. Speakers called for a broader conversation around how law enforcement engages with individuals experiencing mental health crises.
“We’ve seen this pattern before—across the country, and now here in our own backyard,” said Latoya Freeman, a community activist. “A welfare check should never turn into a shooting. We need trained mental health professionals on these calls. We need better protocols. We need humanity.”
Freeman and other speakers demanded that Amarillo consider implementing a co-responder model—a system where law enforcement and mental health professionals respond jointly to crisis calls. Several Texas cities, including Dallas and Austin, have piloted similar programs with positive early outcomes.
A Broader Issue: Policing and Mental Health in Texas
The fatal interaction between Justin Lee Crouch and Amarillo police echoes a growing trend in the U.S., where welfare checks or mental health crises too often escalate into confrontations. According to data from The Treatment Advocacy Center, individuals with untreated mental illness are 16 times more likely to experience a police use-of-force incident.
Amarillo has had three officer-involved shootings in the past 18 months. In two of those cases, the individuals involved were reported to have been experiencing mental health distress at the time. Community leaders are now pressing city council members and the Amarillo Police Oversight Board to consider long-term changes in training, recruitment, and response strategy.
Family Speaks Out
The Crouch family has hired civil rights attorney Miguel Alvarez, who said during a press conference Monday that a lawsuit is being considered. “This family deserves answers. This city deserves accountability. We will not allow this case to be swept aside.”
Alvarez also called for the immediate release of bodycam footage, stating that transparency is “the first step toward healing and justice.”
Meanwhile, Karen Crouch has started a memorial fund in her son’s name. The funds will go toward mental health advocacy and support services in the Amarillo area. “I don’t want another mother to bury her son because the world didn’t know how to help him,” she said.
Where Things Stand Now
As of Monday, the officers involved remain on paid administrative leave. The Texas Rangers continue their independent investigation, and the Amarillo Police Internal Affairs Division is conducting a parallel inquiry. A preliminary report is expected within two weeks.
The community remains in mourning, confusion, and deep contemplation. Signs placed near the Walmart parking lot now read: “Mental Health is Not a Crime”, “Justice for Justin”, and “Help, Don’t Harm.”
The lasting question—one that echoes far beyond the city limits of Amarillo—is whether America’s policing systems are equipped to differentiate a moment of crisis from a threat, and if not, what must be done to protect both officers and the public in times of vulnerability.
In the memory of Justin Lee Crouch, and for the safety of all those like him—both seen and unseen—this moment stands not just as a tragedy, but as a crossroads.
“My son needed help, not judgment,” Karen said, tears streaking her face. “Please, let that be the lesson we all carry forward.”
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