A man was taken into custody Tuesday evening following a shooting that injured a civilian employee with the Fort Worth Police Department, authorities said.
The incident began around 11:45 a.m. in the 3500 block of North Juliet Lane in the Summerfields neighborhood, where members of the department’s Civilian Response Unit were investigating a reported burglary. The unit consists of unarmed civilian employees who handle lower-level calls, such as report taking and evidence collection.
According to Police Chief Eddie Garcia, a man opened fire with a rifle after a Civilian Response Unit member arrived at the home. The employee was struck in the eye.
The wounded worker radioed for help as responding officers arrived and were also met with gunfire. Officers returned fire, and the suspect fled the area on foot, prompting a large-scale search.
The injured employee was taken to a hospital and was described as being in stable condition.
Garcia said, “He was talking, he was moving, and by the grace of God, hopefully, with prayers, he’ll be OK,” WFAA reported.
Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker said the employee is “miraculously doing well,” per Audacy.
Authorities said no other injuries were reported.
Police, including SWAT teams, spent several hours searching for the suspect as residents in the Summerfields area were urged to stay indoors. Streets near Basswood Boulevard and North Riverside Drive were closed, and nearby schools were placed on lockdown during the search.
Officials asked the public to avoid the area, as officers considered the situation potentially dangerous.
The man was taken into custody just before 6 p.m. as he exited a wooded area near Riverside Drive and Brittany Place. Police identified the suspect as 39-year-old Angel Cantu and said a weapon believed to have been used in the shooting was recovered.
Civilian Response Unit members are not assigned to calls involving active suspects or expected violence and do not carry firearms, officials said.
The investigation remains ongoing.
