UPDATED (12:57 p.m. Friday): This article has been updated with Officer Justin Jones’ identity and condition, additional details about the shooting and confirmation that a nearby officer-involved shooting was unrelated.
Dallas ISD Police Officer Justin Jones, 39, was in stable condition Thursday night after undergoing surgery for a gunshot wound suffered while helping a person in crisis in Northwest Dallas.
Jones has served with the Dallas ISD Police Department for 16 years and is assigned to W.T. White High School. He was flagged down Thursday morning by a person in crisis on I-635 near Midway Road, Dallas Police Chief Daniel Comeaux and Dallas ISD Police Chief Albert Martinez said during a news conference.
Jones drove the person to the Walmart and Sam’s Club parking lot to get them off the highway and away from danger. After the person exited Jones’ police SUV, a shooting occurred. Police said Jones was shot at least once in the lower torso.
Another Dallas ISD police officer arrived and applied a tourniquet before Dallas Fire-Rescue transported Jones to Parkland Memorial Hospital. Jones underwent surgery after arriving in critical condition and was stable by Thursday night, according to Dallas ISD Police.
A suspect is in custody. Police had not released the person’s identity or explained what happened in the moments immediately before the shooting as of Friday afternoon. Investigators were still searching for the firearm Friday morning, NBC 5 reported. Officials expect to release body-camera footage and additional information about the suspect Monday, FOX 4 reported.
Nearby shooting confirmed unrelated
Dallas police confirmed that the shooting was not related to a separate officer-involved shooting reported Thursday morning on Williamstown Road, NBC 5 reported.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, a Dallas police officer fired one shot during a felony traffic stop after officers tracked a vehicle stolen in an armed robbery from South Dallas. No one was injured, and police arrested the suspect.
The Dallas Express will update this article as more information becomes available.
