Forney Police Chase Ends In A Hail Of Bullets In SE Dallas
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FORNEY (CBS 11 ) - A police chase in Forney ends with deadly gunfire in Southeast Dallas. The driver who fled is dead. Two women who were in the car, but hopped out prior to the gun battle, were taken into police custody.
"I don't know how many it was… but, I heard the gunshots," says Royce Fain, who lives near where the chase ended on Riverwood, near 175 and Murdock. "And 'boom' 'boom' 'boom' four or five shots. I know it was four or five shots, and 20 squad cars going down there, and I [saw] the helicopter. And circling around and I figured they got him."
According to Forney police, officers were dispatched to the 700 block of Pinson, near Hwy. 80 on a 'suspicious person' call near a motel around 4:00 AM. Investigators say as officers approached, the suspect fled… leading officers on a chase that would eventually involve multiple agencies, including Mesquite police and the Dallas County Sheriff.
There's no word yet on whether officers were able to make contact with the driver during the chase. "It's still early in the investigation," said Dallas Police Major Max Geron, "that's one of the things that we'll be sorting out as the day goes on."
Video of the chase was posted online shows a police helicopter hovering overhead— directing officers and also watching for any civilian traffic that could be in the chase's path. Police have not released the identity of the driver. But, a woman approached the scene and told CBS 11 that the driver was her estranged husband. She also said the man had relatives in the area. But, before he could reach them, the road ended. And so did the chase… in a hail of bullets.
According to Dallas police, the driver got out of his vehicle and shot first—striking a Forney patrol car. And officers returned fire.
"Officers from the Forney police department and Mesquite police departments fired at the suspect, striking and killing him. There were no other injuries."
An autopsy will determine cause of death. Sources tell CBS 11 that the driver had a long criminal record and did not want to return to prison.
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