Gunman Legally Dead After Chase, Shooting Sheriff's Deputy

A man who led North Texas police officers on a wild chase Thursday is legally dead after shooting one sheriff's deputy and taking multiple shots at other officers, police say.

According to Wise County officials, Montague County Sheriff's Deputy James Boyd was shot three times while at a traffic stop Thursday morning in Bowie.

 

Boyd was struck twice in his bullet proof vest while the third shot grazed his head. As the gunman drove away from the scene of the shooting, Boyd was able to radio for help and provide a description of the vehicle.

 

A short time later in Wise County, an Texas State Trooper spotted a vehicle matching Boyd's description north of Alvord and attempted to stop the driver. The driver refused and officers gave chase.

 

During the pursuit, police said the driver stuck his head out of the window as he continually fired on police cars, hitting at least two of them.

 

"I was out on 287, at a crossover, waiting for him to approach. When he came by he was winging his left arm out the window with his pistol, just shooting at every police officer he could see," said Rex Hoskins, Decatur Chief of Police. "I couldn't believe it when I seen him started doing it. Didn't think I got hit, but then found out he did hit the front tire on my vehicle."

 

The chase continued until the driver was struck broadside by a big-rig only a few hundred yards away from the Wise County Sheriff's Department headquarters, near the intersection of Business 380 West and U.S. Highway 380 in Decatur.

 

"He also fired on our lieutenant who was out there. Was able to strike his vehicle in the tire and shoot through the driver's side windshield on our patrol car, our lieutenant's car," said Wise County Sheriff David Walker.

 

After the crash, police said the man then got out of his vehicle and continued shooting at police. Officers returned fire, injuring the man and bringing the chase to a close.

 

The gunman was transported first by ground ambulance and later by air to John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth. Wise County officials said the man, whose identity has not yet been determined, is legally dead but on life support for potential organ harvesting.

 

No officers were injured in the exchange of gunfire. Deputy Boyd was flown by air ambulance to Fort Worth. Officials said his injuries are not life-threatening and that he is expected to be OK.

 

The investigation into the chase and shootings are being investigated by multiple agencies in North Texas including the sheriff's departments of Wise and Montague counties, Decatur police, the Office of the Inspector General, the FBI and the Texas Rangers.

 

The car the gunman was driving had Colorado license plates and, according to KUSA in Denver, matches a "vague description of the vehicle that was in the area when Department of Corrections executive director Tom Clements was shot and killed Tuesday night." So far, officials have made no connection between the vehicle, or the gunman, and Clements' slaying.

 

Wise County officials said investigators from Colorado are expected to arrive in North Texas Thursday evening to join the investigation.

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