The armed suspect who died during a SWAT battle Wednesday after authorities say he shot a Tarrant County sheriff’s deputy has been identified as a 41-year-old Fort Worth man.
According to court records, the suspect is Bo William Aurell. He has not been publicly identified by the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Aurell opened fire and engaged in a close-combat gunfight with officers as they attempted to execute three arrest warrants, authorities said. Officer Todd Tipton suffered a graze wound to the back of his head, a wound to his arm and a wound to his lower back. He was taken to John Peter Smith Hospital and released within hours.
Aurell barricaded himself in his duplex in the 2900 block of Elinor Street, where officers had attempted to execute the arrest warrants. Law enforcement attempted to negotiate with Aurell, but Fort Worth SWAT officers eventually forced their way into the home after the suspect falsely claimed he was holding hostages, according to Police Chief Neil Noakes.
SWAT officers exchanged gunfire with Aurell inside the home, police said. Aurell was critically wounded and died a short time later. Police said Wednesday afternoon they could not say whether the suspect was killed by officers or by a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Aurell was arrested in December 2022 and January 2023 on charges of sexual abuse of a child, indecency with a child, unlawful restraint of a child and violation of child labor laws, according to court records. He was released from the Tarrant County Jail on bail and later rejected a plea deal from prosecutors who offered him a 15-year prison sentence.
Court documents show Aurell failed to appear for a scheduled July 24 court hearing and failed to provide a urine sample, both in violation of his bail conditions. New felony arrest warrants were issued, which Tipton and other Tarrant County deputies attempted to execute at his home on Wednesday.
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The cases against Aurell were dropped on Friday due to his death.
According to court records, Aurell’s wife, April Aurell, also faces a charge of unlawful restraint of a child. Her case was scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Aug. 14, but April Aurell and her attorneys asked the court for a postponement on Friday.
April Aurell’s request for a stay states that her “co-defendant shot at police” and was killed during the fight.
“The suspect is in the process of making funeral arrangements and handling other aspects of this incident,” the document reads.
Aurell and his wife ran a family business — Bo’s BBQ and Firewood — according to court documents. In January 2023, Aurell filed a motion, which was granted, to modify his bail conditions so he could see his wife and they could continue to work together at the business.
