A Dallas police officer was assaulted and a passenger was shot during a traffic stop in the early morning hours of Sunday near Highland Park Village, and the driver of the vehicle remains at large, authorities said.
The incident occurred at approximately 2:16 a.m. on April 19 at the intersection of Mockingbird Lane and Preston Road, near the Dallas Country Club, after an officer attempted to pull over a vehicle for driving without its headlights on.
Shortly after the vehicle stopped, the passenger exited the car, approached the officer’s vehicle, and struck him at least once in the face without warning, according to Executive Assistant Chief Terrence Rhodes of the Dallas Police Department. The officer exited his patrol vehicle and ordered the man to stop, but the suspect continued to advance.
The officer then drew his weapon and fired twice, striking the suspect at least once. Both the officer and the suspect were transported to local hospitals for treatment. Neither has been publicly identified, and the condition of the suspect was not released at the time of publication.
The driver of the vehicle fled the scene during the confrontation and remains at large. As of Sunday morning, Dallas police had not released a description of the driver or the vehicle.
The intersection of Mockingbird Lane and Preston Road remained closed for several hours following the incident as officers processed the scene. The Dallas Police Department’s officer-involved shooting protocol was activated, and the investigation is ongoing.
Anyone with information about the driver is asked to contact Dallas Police.
Editor’s Note: This story will be updated as Dallas Police release additional details, including the identities of those involved and the condition of the suspect.