Police said that a gunman shot and killed two people, inflicting injuries on four more, including three officers, before taking his own lives at a Dallas-Fort Worth home.
Police said that the injuries sustained by the survivors were not life-threatening.
The incident occurred Saturday night at 6:45 pm. Officers were responding to a report of shots being fired in a Haltom City neighbourhood, according to Sgt. Rick Alexander stated Sunday. Alexander stated that Collin Davis (33), and Amber Tsai (32) were killed at the address.
Alexander stated that Tsai died inside the house and Davis outside. Alexander said that a woman aged 62 who called 911, but was not identified by him, also sustained a non-life-threatening injury.
Three officers approached the house from a neighbouring property and rapid gunfire broke out, injuring three of them. Security footage was screened at a Sunday press conference. The gunman fled through the backdoor of the house after officers returned fire. Alexander stated that the gunman, identified as Edward Freyman, 28, was tracked by air and shot himself. He said Freyman was found carrying a “military style rifle” and a gun.
“This was an ambush scenario,” said Police Chief Cody Phillips. He also stated that officers would have been much worse if they had not been prepared for it.
Phillips stated that the gunman and two of the victims he shot knew each other, but their relationships weren’t immediately clear.
Cpl. Cpl. Zach Tabler, Officers Tim Barton & Jose Avila were also among the wounded officers. Phillips stated that Tabler sustained injuries in the arm, leg, and hand; Barton sustained injuries in the leg; Avila sustained injuries in both of her legs. Phillips stated that Barton was released from a hospital after being treated, while Tabler was still recovering and Avila was waiting for surgery.
The investigation has been taken over by the Texas Rangers, an elite state investigative agency. The motive for the shooting could not be determined immediately.
This is just one of many recent incidents in which law enforcement officers were attacked while responding to calls.
Three officers who were trying to serve a warrant were gunned down in eastern Kentucky. After hours of negotiations at a house near Allen, in the hills in Appalachia, police took a 49 year-old man into custody. He is still being held on a $10million bond and charged with two counts each of murdering a police officer.
A Chicago police officer was taken to hospital in serious condition following being repeatedly shot while responding to a domestic disturbance report. The suspect is currently being held on a $2million bond and was taken to hospital for psychiatric evaluation.
