Published: September 28, 2009 11:26 pm      

Man killed by Dallas police was holding cell phone

DALLAS (AP) — Dallas police say a man who was fatally shot after he disregarded commands in English and Spanish to drop an object he pointed at an officer was holding a cell phone.

The shooting happened Sunday night when officers responded to a call about people being loud and firing guns in a backyard.

A man pointed a black object at police who issued commands to drop the item. Police said Officer Paul Ford fired a rifle multiple times, killing the man.

The Dallas County Medical Examiner's office identified 36-year-old Abel Martinez as the man, and authorities determined that he had been holding a cell phone. Police charged his cousin, 25-year-old Raul Martinez, with discharging firearms in municipalities for firing a weapon before officers arrived.

Ford was placed on routine administrative leave.