It started like any ordinary traffic stop… but what happened next nearly turned deadly.
Police officers in a quiet suburban neighborhood spotted a suspicious vehicle parked outside a convenience store late at night. The car had been reported stolen earlier that week — and the driver, later identified as 23-year-old Darius Cole, was already wanted for multiple car thefts across the county.
When officers approached, Darius appeared calm — too calm. He rolled down his window, pretending to cooperate. But within seconds, everything changed.
As one officer asked him to step out of the vehicle, Darius suddenly lunged forward, slamming the door open and sprinting toward the back seat. Bodycam footage captured the tense moment: Darius reaching for something — not car keys, not money — but a gun.
It wasn’t his weapon. Investigators later revealed he had found the firearm inside the stolen car and planned to use it to make his escape.
Officers drew their weapons, shouting commands for him to drop it. But instead, Darius pointed the gun toward them — trembling, desperate, and out of control.
A split second later, chaos erupted. One officer fired a non-lethal round, striking Darius in the arm, sending the weapon skidding across the pavement. He collapsed, screaming in pain and panic, as officers moved in to restrain him.
The gun was later recovered — fully loaded, safety off. Police say if they had reacted a second slower, it could have ended very differently.
Darius was taken into custody and now faces charges of armed car theft, assault on a police officer, and illegal possession of a firearm.
Authorities said the incident serves as a stark reminder of how unpredictable even a “routine” arrest can be. In this case, quick thinking — and incredible restraint — saved lives on both sides.