The suspect in the fatal shooting of a Texas trooper has been captured following hours of the manhunt on Thursday.
The suspect shot a trooper with the Department of Public Safety. He was arrested after a stand-off with law enforcement. Officials in Limestone and Freestone counties conducted a massive search for the suspect lasting for a few hours.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Suspect in today’s fatal TXDPS trooper shooting in Freestone County has been captured in Waller County near Prairie View. Excellent operation by numerous agencies to take this suspect into custody with no additional casualties. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/wallercounty?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#wallercounty</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/txdps?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#txdps</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/freestonecounty?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#freestonecounty</a></p>— Navarro County OEM (@NavarroOEM) <a href="https://twitter.com/NavarroOEM/status/933889624556130304?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 24, 2017</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The Texas Department of Public Safety announced on Twitter that the shooting happened before 4 p.m. Thursday on Interstate 45south of Fairfield, about 90 miles (145 kilometers) south of Dallas. The agency shared that the suspect shot and killed the trooper using a rifle during a traffic stop. The suspect then fled the scene of the incident.
The authorities have yet to release the identity of the trooper.
The suspect has been identified as Dabrett Montreal Black and is driving a gray, 4-door, 2012 Chevrolet Malibu with TX LP JDN 4273.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Here's a picture of the suspect <a href="https://twitter.com/TxDPS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TxDPS</a> are looking for and the car he's believed to be driving <a href="https://twitter.com/CBSDFW?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CBSDFW</a> via <a href="https://twitter.com/NavarroOEM?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NavarroOEM</a> <a href="https://t.co/o7iFclZ9IX">pic.twitter.com/o7iFclZ9IX</a></p>— Jeff Paul (@Jeff_Journalist) <a href="https://twitter.com/Jeff_Journalist/status/933863290903687168?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 24, 2017</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
A police scanner traffic also reveals that two women may have also been in the suspect’s vehicle when the shooting happened.
Hours after the suspect’s escape, the Waller County Sheriff’s Office said that the suspect’s vehicle was spotted in Hempstead, more than 100 miles (161 kilometers) south of Fairfield. Authorities with Waller County said shots were fired, but did not specify who opened fire. Hours later, there were reports that Black was spotted in neighboring Waller County and engaged in a shootout with officers there.
Authorities from multiple agencies joined forces and were able to successfully put an end to the brief standoff, subduing the suspect and placing him under arrest.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Update: Waller County SO is engaged with the suspect now. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/dfwnews?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#dfwnews</a> <a href="https://t.co/RlWe1vAJ7l">pic.twitter.com/RlWe1vAJ7l</a></p>— Navarro County OEM (@NavarroOEM) <a href="https://twitter.com/NavarroOEM/status/933868864357748738?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 24, 2017</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Jail records show that Black has previously been booked into the Smith County jail in Tyler on September 7, 2017, on charges of evading arrest, aggravated assault of a public servant and reckless driving.
Governor Greg Abbot released a statement on Thursday evening condoling with the family, colleagues, and friends of the trooper who he said was “callously killed today in the line of duty.”
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