The officer was placed on modified duty while outside agencies investigate the shooting.
GALVESTON, TX — A Galveston police officer fatally shot a 47-year-old man during a traffic stop Monday afternoon on 55th Street, and state and county investigators are now reviewing what led to the deadly encounter, police said.
The man killed was identified as Randy Martin. Galveston police said the shooting happened about 3:45 p.m. Monday in the 1700 block of 55th Street, near Avenue O. The officer was not injured and was placed on modified duty under department policy. The Texas Rangers and the Galveston County District Attorney’s Office were called in to investigate the shooting.
Police said the officer had stopped a vehicle at the intersection and later requested backup. During the stop, Martin, who police said was the driver, was asked to step out of the vehicle. Authorities said a struggle followed, and the officer asked backup officers to speed up their response. Police said shots were then fired, striking Martin multiple times. Officers provided first aid at the scene until Galveston EMS arrived.
Martin was taken to the University of Texas Medical Branch Emergency Department, where he was pronounced dead. Police said a passenger in the vehicle also was taken to the emergency room, but officials did not immediately describe that person’s condition or explain why the passenger was transported. The department has not said what prompted the traffic stop, whether any weapon was recovered, or whether body-camera or dash-camera video captured the shooting.
Galveston Police Chief Doug Balli said the department’s thoughts were with everyone affected by the shooting. Balli said police would release more information when it could be done without harming the investigation. The department said officer-involved shootings are reviewed by outside agencies under its protocols. The officer involved had been with the Galveston Police Department for about two and a half years, police said.
The city’s policy for officer-involved shootings calls for several reviews after a person is injured or killed by police gunfire. Those reviews can include a criminal investigation of the officer’s actions, an administrative review of whether department policy was followed and a civil review of possible liability. The policy also says outside agencies may take part in the criminal investigation, including the Texas Rangers and the Galveston County District Attorney’s Office.
The shooting brought a large police and emergency response to a busy area of Galveston west of the island’s downtown core. Video posted online after the shooting showed officers gathered around a person on the street as aid was being given. Police have not released the full sequence of events before the gunfire, and officials have not said whether the officer fired before or after backup officers arrived.
No charges had been announced Tuesday, and police said the investigation remained active. The next major step is the outside review by the Texas Rangers and the Galveston County District Attorney’s Office, which will examine the evidence before any decision is made on the officer’s use of force.
Author note: Last updated May 19, 2026.