2 Officers Injured & Suspect Killed After DART Bus Hijacking, Chase
RICHARDSON, Texas (CBSDFW.COM) — The suspect of a DART bus hijacking has died after exchanging fire with police and injuring two officers Sunday, officials said.
At 11 a.m. Apr. 19, DART police received a report that a customer entered a bus on Buckingham Road and opened fire — shattering several windows.
The suspect, later identified as 31-year-old Ramon Thomas Villagomez, then ordered the bus operator to drive them to an undetermined location, officials said. There was one other passenger on board.
The bus proceeded through several jurisdictions including Richardson, Garland, Rowlett and Rockwall on President George Bush Turnpike (PGBT).
Shots were fired by Villagomez in Garland and Richardson — injuring two officers from DART and Garland PD. Both face non life-threatening injuries.
The chase came to a stop on northbound PGBT between State Highway 66 and Liberty Grove. Upon exiting the bus, Villagomez exchanged gunfire with police. He was later pronounced dead at the scene.
Garland Police Department's public information officer Pedro Barineau said one could not have asked for a worse situation.
"We have a situation in which somebody has taken a driver of a bus hostage, is shooting at the police as we are pursuing and there's people around all over the road," he said.
However, Barineau said if it weren't for current circumstances, the situation could've been worse.
In a statement later released by GPD, officials said Villagomez was a wanted suspect for the murder his girlfriend out of San Antonio and for an aggravated assault of another relative out of Brazoria County.
