2 officers shot, suspect dead after shooting at Crandall convenience store
CRANDALL – A Kaufman County sheriff's deputy and a Crandall police officer were shot early Saturday while responding to a panic alarm at a convenience store, officials said.
Kaufman County Sheriff Bryan Beavers said the deputy and officer were responding to a silent alarm at a Texas Pride convenience store in the 5500 block of FM 741 just after 3 a.m.
After they arrived, the suspect fired at the deputy and officer. They returned fire, killing the man, Beavers said. The deputy and officer were taken to Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas and are expected to recover.
The sight of police vehicles, crime scene tape, more than four dozen evidence markers, and two guns on the ground stunned residents near the Exxon station where the shooting occurred.
"I live two blocks behind the store, so it's kind of scary," Carnell McCurdy said.
McCurdy, a father of three young children, said he couldn't believe a shootout happened so close to home.
"It's heartbreaking knowing it's right in my backyard, thinking I was moving from a neighborhood to a better neighborhood, and it's just the same every place you go," McCurdy said.
Sylvester Henderson, who lives in a housing development across the street from the gas station, said he moved from Pleasant Grove because of crime and is now dealing with the same issues.
"This is supposed to be a peaceful area, and I have to wake up in a peaceful area knowing that my car has been broken into, and it shouldn't be like that," Henderson said. "We came from the hood. I don't want to come out here and still have to deal with that."
Henderson said he had items stolen from his car a few months ago and is reconsidering living in the area after the shooting.
"Honestly, at this point, it makes you want to move," Henderson said. "From the looks of it, it looks like we were better off in Pleasant Grove than being out here. This isn't as peaceful as you think it is."
Beavers said the male deputy has worked in law enforcement for 10 years, and the female officer has been in law enforcement for three years.
The identities of the suspect and the officers have not been released. Both officers were released from the hospital, the sheriff's office and Crandall Police said Sunday.
The Texas Rangers have taken over the investigation.