Police Finish Searching Woods Where Morales Hid

Grapevine police spent Monday searching the area where Alberto Morales was shot and killed over the weekend.

Investigators tracked the wanted fugitive to an area off of Lake Grapevine early Saturday, afterhe spent five days on the run after escaping custody.

Morales escaped Monday, after he stabbed his police escort that was taking him from Miami to Las Vegas.

Investigators scoured the wooded area where it appears Morales was hiding under tree limbs, with a small candle and a few scraps of raw chicken. Investigators said a 911 call from a homeowner nearby helped lead them to the wanted fugitive.

At about 10:30 Friday night, a couple who lives on Forest Hills Road came home to find men's clothing and jewelry missing.

With the help of a police helicopter, Grapevine police tracked Morales to a wooded area half a mile away, off of the lake.

Police said when Morales refused to surrender, three officers, two U.S. Marshals and one Grapevine police officer fired their weapons, killing Morales.

Morales' handcuffs and shackles were nowhere to be found, although he had a handful of sticks, according to police.

"I think through his actions, he made it known, the way he injured the Miami officer, that demonstrates or illustrates that he was willing to do pretty much anything to stay out of prison," said Grapevine Sr. Police Officer Sam Shemwell.

The Grapevine police officer who fired his weapon is on routine leave, as is customary in these types of cases, until the investigation is completed.

Contact Us