Police: ‘Barricaded person’ at Frisco apartments after trooper wounded in shooting
A large police presence blocked the entrance to a Frisco apartment complex Friday night as police tried to make contact with a “barricaded person” believed to have shot a Texas state trooper.
The Department of Public Safety trooper was shot during a traffic stop about 2:15 p.m. Friday in Frisco, a suburb about 30 miles north of Dallas, police said.
The trooper, whose name was not released, underwent surgery at a Frisco area hospital, which doctors said went well, according to a DPS statement.
Multiple law enforcement agencies surrounded the La Valencia at Starwood Apartments, in the 6800 block of Lebanon Road, looking for the shooter, who they believe is still at the apartments.
“Multiple agencies continue to collaborate in an effort to bring this barricaded person incident to a peaceful conclusion,” Frisco police said in a tweet about 10 p.m. “Again, the patience and concern shown by our residents is appreciated.”
A resident, Scott Bowers, said he was inside his apartment at the complex when he heard shots.
At first, he thought someone was setting off firecrackers. He looked outside and saw a man with a gun and realized the gunshots were real. He heard the last shot at 2:18 p.m.
“I was laying on the floor for three hours shaking,” Bowers said.
He said eight or nine SWAT members came into his apartment and escorted him out at 6:20 p.m. He met his fiance, Kimberly Wohleb, outside the apartment complex and they hugged.
About 7 p.m., first responders brought water and Gatorade into the complex, where officers were staging.
After 8 p.m., Tiffani Johnson said she had been waiting since 3:30 outside the apartment complex, where she lives.
She said she was frustrated because she has a dog and has not been kept updated on what’s going on. “There’s no communication,” she said.
Frisco police continued to tell residents to stay in their homes or avoid the area. “Frisco PD is thankful for the continued patience of our community,” the department said in a tweet.
The shooting occurred after the trooper tried to stop a car for a traffic violation on Dallas North Tollway, according to DPS.
Instead of stopping, the driver evaded the trooper and drove into the La Valencia at Starwood Apartments. There, the driver stopped the car and at some point shot the trooper, police said.
A description of the shooter has not been released.
Following the shooting, responding officers stood behind a police vehicle with guns pointed toward a Pontiac Firebird in the apartment parking lot that had its driver’s door open, WFAA reported. No one was inside the car, which had three bullet holes in its back window.
This is an ongoing story. It will be updated when more details become available.
This story was originally published March 29, 2019 at 9:29 PM.
