A decorated Dallas attorney died in a puzzling early-morning shootout with police at a luxury Uptown condominium. Michael Schmidt of the Schmidt Law Firm was shot and killed around 2 am January 2.
Police were responding to reports of a burglary when Schmidt, 47, allegedly opened fire on the officers from a barricaded area in a hallway. According to police, Schmidt reported a burglary in progress to a staff member at Glass House by Windsor, an upscale complex in the 2700 block of McKinnon Street.
A condo worker warned police that Michael Schmidt was armed and had barricaded himself in a hallway.
When officers arrived, the staff member was no longer worried about a burglar and instead warned police that Schmidt was armed and had barricaded himself in a hallway.
Schmidt allegedly fired on the officers after they tried to speak with him. The officers took cover and continued to attempt to make contact with Schmidt, who eventually left his barricaded position and made a move toward police.
Officers returned fire and shot Schmidt. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Details on the incident are scant, and the information released by Dallas police thus far has been dubbed preliminary.
Michael Schmdit worked with his father, C.L. Schmidt, who founded the Schmidt Law Firm in 1992. Michael earned degrees from Southern Methodist University and Oklahoma City University. He was a personal injury attorney most noted for his $10.5 million jury victory in a wrongful death lawsuit against Spearmint Rhino Gentlemen's Club.
Police arrived due to what is now believed to be a fake burglary report.
