QUITMAN, TX – A Wood County sheriff’s deputy and Texas Department of Public Safety trooper remain in critical condition after being shot multiple times by a suspect who later died following an hours-long standoff Saturday afternoon.
The shooting occurred when law enforcement officers attempted to serve six outstanding felony warrants on the suspect at a residence near the intersection of FM 515 and FM 2966 in Wood County. Officials said the suspect immediately opened fire with a semi-automatic weapon when officers approached to execute the warrants.
Both officers sustained multiple gunshot wounds in the initial attack, according to the Wood County Sheriff’s Office. The suspect then barricaded himself inside the home, prompting a response from additional agencies including the Texas Rangers.
Law enforcement made repeated attempts to negotiate the suspect’s surrender over several hours, utilizing various tactics including tear gas deployment. When officers eventually entered the residence, the suspect again opened fire on law enforcement personnel, who returned gunfire.
The suspect was transported to a hospital in Quitman where he was pronounced dead. His identity has not been released pending notification of next of kin.
Both wounded officers were airlifted to a Tyler-area hospital where they remain in critical but stable condition. Texas Municipal Police Association Director Luke Shafer visited the officers Sunday afternoon, reporting that one officer was undergoing surgery while the other remained in intensive care.
“Both are in good spirits and surrounded by family and support,” a TMPA spokesperson said. “TMPA will continue to stand with them and their loved ones every step of the way.”
Court records show the suspect was wanted on multiple felony charges including unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, theft of a firearm, evading arrest with a vehicle, and two separate warrants for possession of controlled substances.
The Texas Rangers are leading the investigation into the officer-involved shooting, which is standard protocol for such incidents in Texas.
