PALESTINE, Texas – State and county law enforcement authorities are investigating the shooting death of a shoplifting suspect by local police officers at an Applebee’s Restaurant in this East Texas town earlier this week.

Investigators from the Texas Rangers and the Anderson County District Attorney’s Office were assigned to the case after Palestine Police Chief Mike Alexander reported that two officers shot and killed the white suspect when he pointed a black BB gun that resembled a real pistol at them Sunday night.

“In the rapidly developing situation the officers took appropriate defensive measures in using deadly force against the suspect to stop the threat,” the chief said.

The officers were placed on administrative leave. They were not identified. Video footage of the shooting is under review by investigators and has not been released publicly. The fatal shooting of crime suspects by police has attracted national attention in the past year.

Chief Alexander identified the victim as James D. Bushey, 47, of Anderson County. The sheriff’s office said he did not have a police record.

Events leading to the shooting unfolded when the police officers responded to a theft of alcohol at Wal-Mart by a white male, wearing tan shorts and a black shirt.

Alexander said the officers found the suspect hiding in a restroom at the nearby Applebee’s, got him to come out and asked for identification. He said the suspect instead pulled out what looked like a handgun.  

The chief said the officers yelled “gun, gun, gun” and one of them grabbed the man in an effort to take the weapon from him.

But, he added, the man broke free and pointed the gun at the officers, causing them to respond by firing several shots at the suspect. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

It was then that the officers discovered the suspect was brandishing a black BB gun that they said was designed to look like a 9 mm pistol, the chief said.

Alexander said the officers recovered various items stolen from Wal-Mart at the scene.

Details for this story were provided by the Palestine, Texas, Herald-Press.