A shootout erupted early Thursday morning as officers with the U.S. Marshals Task Force and the Dallas Police Department attempted to serve an individual with an arrest warrant for capital murder.
The task force arrived at a residence in the 9900 block of Adleta Boulevard in far northeast Dallas at approximately 6 a.m. on November 16. While officers were attempting to enter the home to serve the warrant, the suspect allegedly opened fire.
Gunfire was exchanged until the gunman, who sustained critical injuries, was subdued along with a second suspect. A Dallas police officer was shot in the leg during the incident and taken to Presbyterian Hospital.
“I just left the hospital, he’s going to be ok, and [is] in great spirits,” Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia posted on X later that same day.
Gov. Greg Abbott also released a statement addressing the shooting of the Dallas police officer.
“This is a somber reminder of the dangers our brave men and women in blue encounter each and every day to keep Texans across our state safe. Cecilia and I ask Texans to join us in praying for the officer as he recovers from his injuries at the hospital, as well as all law enforcement across Texas who serve and protect our communities,” Abbott stated in the news release.
The officer-involved shooting is currently under investigation, and no further information has been released at this time. It occurred in District 10, which Council Member Kathy Stewart represents.
A capital murder charge is the most serious homicide offense issued in Texas, as it carries the possibility of punishment by death or life in prison. The charge is reserved for more heinous crimes, such as homicides committed in the course of another felony, including aggravated robbery, or those in which the victim is a peace officer or a vulnerable person, including a child under age 10.
Across Dallas, the murder rate has continued to climb this year, with 219 offenses logged by the City as of November 16, according to the police department’s crime analytics dashboard. This represents an increase of 13.5% year over year.
Dallas police have launched a campaign against violent crime within City limits. However, these efforts have been dampened by a longstanding shortage of officers. Although a previous City analysis recommended that a jurisdiction the size of Dallas have about 4,000 officers on staff, Dallas currently has a force of fewer than 3,200.
Downtown Dallas reflects the effects of this shortage by logging significantly higher crime rates than nearby Fort Worth’s city center, which benefits from a dedicated police unit and private security guards.
