2025-03-18 2

Amarillo police ID man found dead after SWAT standoff, pursuit Monday night

The Amarillo Police Department said a man is dead after an hours-long standoff led to a police pursuit, which ended in officers finding him dead inside his vehicle near Bushland Monday night.

APD had said Monday night in a community bulletin that its Critical Incident Response Team was responding to a situation in the 4600 block of Southwest 16th, urging residents to avoid the area. Parts of the road were blocked off during the standoff.

Police said at about 5:15 p.m. that Amarillo officers were sent to the area in response to a report of a man in possible mental distress. Officers arrived and found the individual, identified as Zane Calum Prescott, 33, inside his vehicle and armed with a firearm.

Officers "strategically backed away and requested assistance," APD said, and the SWAT team and negotiators then responded, establishing communication with Prescott. They "engaged with him for several hours in an attempt to resolve the situation peacefully," APD said.

In the meantime, police found out Prescott was in violation of a protective order, which had prohibited him from possessing a firearm, and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

As officers attempted to take him into custody, Prescott rammed his vehicle through a fence on the south end of his residence and fled the scene. A police pursuit followed to just outside Bushland city limits.

Prescott’s vehicle "eventually became inoperable and stalled" at Bushland Road and Wind River Drive, police added. Despite further efforts to make contact with the suspect, police found that Prescott had died inside his vehicle from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The Justice of the Peace was notified, and an autopsy was ordered. Next of kin were notified.

The Amarillo Police Department’s homicide unit has been called in to assist with the ongoing investigation. Police said they will provide updates as more information becomes available.

This is a developing story; more information will be added as it is released.