On Friday moring, police arrested a man suspected of shooting and killing Farmers Branch police officer Lowell Tribble nearly 30 years ago.
Officers and investigators with the Dallas County District Attorney's office arrested Gary Pettigrew Friday morning for the 1983 murder.
The DA's office launched a new investigation into the 27 year old murder case in 2007. Investigators say information they uncovered led them to Pettigrew. A Dallas County grand jury indicted him in the officer's murder.
Officer Tribble’s case was the oldest unsolved police officer killing in the state of Texas.
In a news release, Chief Sid Fuller said, "I know the men and women that have worked on this case for the past 27 years have been diligent and tireless in their pursuit of the killer. I am very proud of the department’s efforts and appreciate the assistance we have received from the D.A.’s office and countless other agencies. I hope this arrest brings some closure to the Tribble family.”
The arrest came exactly 27 years to the day of Tribble's murder. Tribble was in uniform driving through a Farmers Branch apartment complex in his police cruiser when an unidentified suspect opened fire on him.
According to the Associated Press, Pettigrew has a rap sheet dating back to the 1960s with convictions for driving under the influence, burglary, resisting arrest, drug charges and auto theft.
