It has been reported that Armando Juarez, the man suspected of engaging in a shootout with Dallas police officers outside of a Home Depot yesterday afternoon, faces multiple charges of aggravated assault on a police officer and felony theft. Additional charges in the fatal shooting incident are likely.
The shooting resulted in two police officers and one loss-prevention officer being critically injured. Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings confirmed this that one of the police officers, Rogelio Santander, tragically died from his injuries this morning, according to CBS News .
It appears that the encounter started as a potential shoplifting incident when two Dallas officers were called to the store to help an off-duty colleague remove the suspect from the premises, but it quickly escalated.
“Police body-camera footage shows Juarez pulling a handgun from his pocket as [Officer Crystal] Almeida and Santander attempted to take him into custody,” AP reported . The injured Home Depot loss prevention officer is identified as Scott Painter. All are being treated at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas.
Dallas cops spotted a white pickup truck being driven by the suspect in the southeast part of the city and gave chase. Officers subsequently took the suspect and a female passenger into custody in northwest Dallas after the high-speed pursuit, NBC DFW reported. The news outlet added that Juarez allegedly had a least two run-ins with law enforcement authorities previously, including a car theft charge to which he allegedly pleaded guilty.
Authorities originally considered Juarez, 29, a person of interest in the attempted capital murder of two police officers at the Dallas Home Depot. He is currently booked in the Dallas County Jail; a judge has not yet set a bond.
ABC Dallas affiliate WFAA described what happened as the massive manhunt went down.
“He allegedly led police on a chase in downtown Dallas, where he was taken into custody near the 3700 block of Versailles Avenue Tuesday night. A heavy police presence swarmed the area as the truck drove on sidewalks and streets in Highland Park, near Love Field Airport.”
#BREAKING : One of two Dallas police officers critically wounded in Home Depot triple shooting has died, police confirm. Second officer and security guard are “critical” https://t.co/jBrgsFzCmV pic.twitter.com/QLEa5xMGPe
— NBC DFW (@NBCDFW) April 25, 2018
Suspect Armando Juarez is an unemployed father of two, WFAA added.
Armando Juarez L/M/29, is a person of interest in the Attempted Capital Murder of 2 Police Officers that occurred at the Home Depot located at 11682 Forest Central Drive. Anyone with information regarding this offense is encouraged to contact 9-1-1 pic.twitter.com/rbmwmMv2JC
— Dallas Police Dept (@DallasPD) April 25, 2018
As the Dallas Home Depot shooting and its aftermath constitute a developing story, please check back with the Inquisitr for updates.
