UPDATE, 9:26 p.m.: Dallas Police arrested Juarez in the 3700 block of South Versailles Avenue near the Dallas North Tollway after a brief chase Tuesday night, according to the Dallas Police Department.
After a lengthy car chase, the suspect related to today's shooting is in custody. Now, prayers are needed for the two officers fighting for their lives!
— Dallas Air One (@DPDAir1) April 25, 2018
UPDATE, 8 p.m.: Police are searching for 29-year-old Armando Luis Juarez in connection with a Tuesday afternoon shooting that left two Dallas police officers critically wounded after they answered a call at a Home Depot store at Forest Lane near U.S. Route 75. A third person, a civilian loss prevention officer employed by Home Depot, was also wounded. His condition was not released.
Juarez fled the Home Depot in a white Ford F-150 pickup, police Chief U. Renee Hall told reporters during a brief news conference at Presbyterian Hospital, where the victims were still being treated Tuesday evening. According to Dallas County criminal records, Juarez has a prior arrest for possession of cocaine. Hall described Juarez as a person of interest to police.
"We do believe he is armed at this time," Hall said.
Mayor Mike Rawlings opened the news conference somberly.
"Once again, Dallas is at the precipice, looking into the hell of heartbreak as our police department was attacked," Rawlings said.
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
He urged Dallas to pray for the injured but said the city would withhold information about the victims' names and conditions as their family members headed to the hospital.
"It sobers us to realize what officers walk into day in and out and how quickly they become victims. I continue to be upset at the lack of respect for police in our city and our country," Rawlings said.
Hall said two officers were called to the Home Depot at 4:12 p.m. When they arrived, they received a call from another officer who was off duty — not the Home Depot employee — asking for assistance with an arrest. Somehow during the arrest, the suspect was able to shoot the three victims and flee. Police were still investigating and reviewing video from the store, Hall said, and further details were scanty.
Throughout the afternoon as police searched the area around the Home Depot, local media reported at various times that one of the officers was a female, one male and one or the other had died or was being kept alive on life support. Rawlings asked reporters to give police time to collect information, promising updates throughout the evening.
"It is our belief that the families come first and not the news," he said. "Don't pick up some rumor and cause pain to families."
Hall said officers from other local police departments as well as state and federal agents were helping in the search for Juarez. She urged anyone with information about his location to call police.
EXPANDORIGINAL STORY: The Dallas Police Department confirmed late Tuesday afternoon that an unknown person shot two DPD officers near a Home Depot at U.S. 75 and Forest Lane. According to the department, both officers are critically wounded. The gunman also shot a third person. That person's condition is unknown, according to DPD.
Video from news crews at the scene of the shooting showed several officers with rifles drawn, apparently searching for the shooter in a creek bed near the home improvement store.
#Breaking more video of DPD officers searching creek bed with rifles drawn off Centea Expressway looking for suspect after reports that at least one but possibly 2 officers have been shot pic.twitter.com/v2BWHLnLxf
— J.D. Miles (@jdmiles11) April 24, 2018
DPD and the city of Dallas are keeping media as far from the search as possible so as not to give away the positions of any officers. Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings said he was "closely monitoring the situation" Tuesday afternoon.
We are closely monitoring the situation in northeast Dallas and praying for our officers and their families. @DallasPD
— Mike Rawlings (@Mike_Rawlings) April 24, 2018
DART's Forest Lane Station is shut down for the time being, according to the agency.
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Forest Lane station will not be serviced until further notice due to police activity in the area. Our apologies.
— DARTAlerts (@DARTAlerts) April 24, 2018
This post will be updated as more details become available.
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