DALLAS — An officer with the Dallas Police Department (DPD) was shot and killed Thursday evening, and two other officers were injured.
Around 10:10 p.m., DPD said officers responded to an “officer in distress” call in the 900 block of East Ledbetter Drive. When they arrived, they found a male officer shot in his squad car.
Two officers exchanged gunfire with a male suspect at the scene, and both officers were struck, DPD said.
In the wake of the East Ledbetter Drive shooting, a chase ensued along I-35E. Lewisville PD was called in to assist with the chase. According to an email obtained by WFAA from the Lewisville Police Chief to his staff, the suspect was chased by police to Lewisville and was fatally shot in the 1000 block of Stemmons Freeway.
The suspect allegedly got out of his vehicle with what police describe as a “long gun” and was shot by Dallas police officers, DPD said in a news release. The Lewisville Police Chief said none of the Lewisville officers fired their weapons.
The suspect died at the scene. His identity has not yet been released.
Northbound lanes on I-35E at SB-121 Business Road were blocked off Friday morning, so drivers had to use the Corporate exit.
Sources told WFAA that the three DPD officers were hospitalized at two Dallas hospitals: Baylor Scott & White in Dallas and Methodist Dallas Medical Center. The identities of the officers have not been released.
One officer was killed, the second officer is in critical condition, and the third officer is listed in stable condition, DPD said.
“Our department is hurting,” DPD Communications director Kristin Lowman said in an early morning press conference on Friday. “We ask tonight and this morning for the thoughts and prayers for our city, for not only those recovering in the hospital, but for our fallen, for their family and for their loved ones.”
Around 1:20 a.m. on Friday, dozens of DPD officers and law enforcement were seen lined up at the front door of the Methodist hospital. At one point, WFAA cameras captured officers saluting as multiple people were escorted out of a vehicle and into the hospital.
Police officers also stood outside the emergency room entrance at Baylor Scott & White in Dallas.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to our brothers and sisters in blue from the Dallas Police Department tonight,” the Lewisville Police Officers’ Association said in a Facebook post.
DPD said flags at all city facilities will be flown at half-staff.
The investigation is ongoing.
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