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UNT Police Officer Shoots, Kills Student With An Ax Near Campus

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The shooting took place near the intersection of Oak and Fry streets in Denton.

University of North Texas campus police have fatally shot a student who allegedly threatened a campus officer with an ax.

University officials tell The Dallas Morning News that the shooting happened near the Denton campus early Sunday. The Tarrant County Medical Examiner's Office identified the man as Ryan McMillan, whose 21st birthday was Saturday.

UNT spokeswoman Margarita Venegas says police responded about 1 a.m. Sunday to a report that someone was breaking car windows about two blocks from campus, near the intersection of Oak and Fry streets.

Venegas says when the officer arrived, McMillan approached him with the ax in his hand and the officer shot him. The Texas Rangers are investigating. The officer has been place on administrative duty pending results of the investigation.

The university says it is cooperating with the Texas Rangers and the Denton Police Department.

KXAS-TV (NBC 5) reports:

UNT officials confirmed McMillan, who turned 21 on Saturday, was a sophomore pre-hospitality major and had transferred to UNT from Weatherford College this fall. … NBC DFW viewer Bink Ruckthongsook snapped a picture of paramedics tending to the man in the street. Ruckthongsook said he heard three gun shots.

UNT President Neal Smatresk sent out a tweet:

"This is a tragic day for our university family," Smatresk wrote in a message to the university. "This is a tragic event that saddens us as a university community. We offer our condolences to the individuals, their families and all involved."

Free counseling is available to students through the university's Counseling and Testing Center. 

Learn more

Here's more from the campus newspaper, the North Texas Daily.