A Garland police officer is in stable condition after he was shot while responding to a 911 call early Monday morning, and the suspected shooter is dead, according to police.
Dispatchers received multiple calls about gunfire in the street in the 100 block of West Wanda shortly after midnight on February 24. As the first responding officer arrived on the scene, the male suspect immediately began firing toward the police vehicle, striking the officer who was still inside the car.
The injured officer, who has not been identified, was able to retreat to safety and was then transported to the hospital, Lt. Pedro Barineau said at a press conference on February 24.
Other officers arriving on the scene exchanged gunfire with the suspect, who was shot and later pronounced dead at a local hospital. Police have not publicly identified the suspect.
“This is a very active and fluid investigation,” Lt. Barineau said. “The investigation started in one place … but ultimately ended up on West Wanda. … This is a tragic situation, but we believe this to be an isolated situation.”
Police have asked the public to avoid the area as the investigation continues. The motive behind the shooting and the events that led to the altercation are still unclear. The Garland Police Department has scheduled a press conference for 6 p.m. on February 24 to update the public on the details of the shooting.