DPS Troopers Identified in Fatal South Dallas Shooting

This is a developing story and will be updated throughoutNearly a week after a fatal shooting in South Dallas, the Texas Department of Public Safety identified the two troopers who were involved. Joshua Engleman from Palo Pinto County and Robert Litvin from Parker County were the two troopers involved in the death of 27-year-old Schaston Theodore Lamarr Hodge , according to Lt. Lonny Haschel, a spokesman for the department. The agency said the shooting happened after Hodge "pulled a handgun on the troopers." The troopers have been placed on paid leave, Haschel said. It's unclear if both troopers shot at Hodge. Haschel declined to respond to follow-up questions on Friday, citing the on-going investigation. Engleman has worked for the agency for seven years. Litvin has worked for three years. The agency said the two troopers tried to pull Hodge over for a traffic violation near Elsie Faye Heggins Street in South Dallas on Aug. 17. Hodge, the only person in the vehicle, tried to flee before he pulled into a driveway in the 4200 block of Jamaica Street, near Fair Park's Dos Equis Pavilion, the DPS said. The agency said that as troopers approached him, Hodge pulled out a handgun.The troopers were working in Dallas as a part of a joint operation with the Dallas Police Department after Gov. Greg Abbott announced in June that he would dispatch state troopers to help curb a spike in violent crime. The initiative has been criticized by some residents and local officials who say troopers are focused on petty traffic enforcement involving people of color. Council member Adam Bazaldua, who represents South Dallas, said officials have told him there is footage of the shooting from an officer's body cam. But the agency has not released footage from the night."I'm hoping we can count on transparency from the Texas Rangers for that to be released to the public," Bazaldua said on Monday.  Continue reading...