Officer Who Took Down Garland Shooting Suspects Called "Hero"
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GARLAND (CBSDFW.COM) - The shooting in Garland could have turned out so much worse if it weren't for one officer.
Garland police say they are keeping the identity of the officer under wraps -- for security reasons. But CBS 11 News did learn some information that paints a better picture of who the man is and what happened in the moments before and after the shooting.
The officer is currently assigned to the traffic unit and has been with the Garland Police Department for several years. At one point in his career he served as a SWAT negotiator.
Investigators also say, as suspects shot at the trained lawman with automatic weapons on Sunday, he returned fire from his duty handgun and took down both men. Moments later a SWAT team also responded and fired shots.
While the man's identity remains a mystery today, he is being honored for his skill and bravery in stopping the attack.
Garland police spokesperson Joe Harn said, "Under the fire that he was put under he did a very good job, and probably saved lives. Because of the way we were set up we were able to stop those men, before they were able to penetrate the area and shoot anybody else or attempt to shoot anybody else."
Investigators say the gunmen got out of their car with assault rifles in hand and immediately began firing. A Garland Independent School District security guard was shot in the ankle and was treated at the hospital and released.
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