GREENVILLE, Texas (AP) – A shooting in North Texas left one police officer dead and a suspect injured, police said Tuesday.
Officer Cooper Dawson, 27, died at a hospital around 4:30 a.m. after a Monday night shooting in Greenville, about 45 miles (70 kilometers) northeast of Dallas, Police Chief Chris Smith said.
Greenville Police Department Officer Cooper Dawson was shot and killed in the line of duty on November 25, 2024.
“We’re hurting as a department. We’re hurting as a community,” Smith said at a news conference Tuesday afternoon.
Smith said the shooting occurred after officers attempted to stop a driver who had multiple felony warrants.
“The suspect then fled on foot. Officer Dawson and his partner pursued the suspect, at which point the suspect opened fire, striking Officer Dawson,” Smith said.
Despite his injuries, Dawson fought back and struck the suspect, who was hospitalized in critical condition, Smith said.
Authorities have not released the suspect’s name.
Mr Smith said Mr Dawson was an “excellent officer” who was “very committed to training”. Dawson was able to apply a tourniquet on himself after he was shot.
Smith said Dawson was married and had three children. He said Dawson worked at the police department in the Dallas suburb of Garland for seven years before being assigned to the Greenville Police Department about a year and a half ago. Dawson also served in the Army National Guard, Smith said.
Greenville is located 72 miles southeast of Sherman in Hunt County, Texas.
