A Dallas Police officer is expected to be OK after being shot in the leg during a shootout with a murder suspect Thursday morning.
According to the police department, the officer was working with the US Marshals Task Force to serve a capital murder arrest warrant at about 6 a.m. at an apartment on the 9900 block of Adleta Boulevard.
"As they approached the residence, they knocked, they announced, and as they began to breach the door, they were immediately met with gunfire from the suspect," said Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia.
Garcia said that's when the officers were met with gunfire and struck in the lower leg.
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"I just left the hospital a little bit ago, our officer will be fine, he's in good spirits and will recover," said Garcia.
The officers retreated and there was a second exchange of gunfire, Garcia said, and the unidentified suspect was hit and was taken into custody. The suspect was hospitalized and is in critical condition.
The front door of the apartment along with a side window in the third floor is riddled with bullets and police evidence markers.
Garcia promised a more substantive update on Monday after they've had time to investigate the shooting. The investigation into the shooting, meanwhile, is active and ongoing.
"I happened to wake up early and heard 4 or 5 very rapid fire gunshots," said Sydney Yourse who lives in the apartment complex. "It's unsettling, like it's real unsettling I'm moving very soon but yeah it's a little scary to know like there's violence actively happening in my apartment complex."
She said it's not unusual to hear gunshots in the area, which is a reason why she's moving out once her lease is up.
"This area is a little sketchy, but there's been other incidences and things like that," she said. "Now that this has happened I'll be a lot more cautious walking around."
Gov. Greg Abbott (R) issued a statement Thursday afternoon saying:
βViolence against police will never be tolerated in Texas, period. This is a somber reminder of the dangers our brave men and women in blue encounter each and every day to keep Texans across our state safe. Cecilia and I ask Texans to join us in praying for the officer as he recovers from his injuries at the hospital, as well as all law enforcement across Texas who serve and protect our communities.β
POLICE SHOOTOUT
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