Texas Blue Alert in search for suspect accused of shooting police officer in Wise County
A Blue Alert was issued Monday morning for a 43-year-old man accused in the shooting of a police officer in Wise County on Sunday evening, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.
The alert is for Royce Wood, who was last seen about 8 p.m. Sunday near US 287 and Farm Market Road 407 in New Fairview. The search continued Monday afternoon.
A Blue Alert is issued when authorities are searching for people who have killed or seriously injured a law enforcement officer, according to the Texas DPS.
Wood is described as 6 feet 2 inches tall and 200 pounds, is bald with a full beard and has green eyes. He was last seen wearing a baseball cap with a camo bandana around it, black sunglasses, a vest, a green shirt and shorts, according to the DPS.
He’s accused of firing several rounds and shooting a Rhome police officer in the leg during a traffic stop in Wise County on Sunday evening, according to media reports. An officer returned fire, but there was no indication that the suspect was shot.
The Wise County Sheriff’s Office and other law enforcement agencies searched for the suspected shooter Sunday night and Monday, the Wise County Messenger reported.
Wise County sheriff’s deputies and Rhome police pulled over two people on a motorcycle, according to NBC DFW. The man driving the motorcycle, later identified as Wood, matched the description of the suspect in a home invasion in the area Saturday night.
Wood fled on foot after shooting the police officer, authorities said. A woman passenger was taken into custody and later released.
The officer, whose name was not released, was taken to John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth, where he was in stable condition and expected to recover.
The Wise County Sheriff’s Office released a photo of Wood Sunday night as they searched for him.
Hope Church, a church in the area where the shooting took place, posted on its Facebook page that churchgoers were attending a Sunday gathering when they heard eight to 12 shots fired outside of the church at 333 FM 407.
“Our bassist looked out as the shooter looked at the door of the Church from our parking lot,” the post said. “He quickly locked the door and ran to warn the rest of the Congregation. As everyone went to the most secure location in the building the Pastor chambered a round and stood watch outside the door of the safest room with the Worship Pastor.”
Police told the group to “hunker down” and wait for the all clear, according to the post.
Sheriff’s deputies set up a perimeter near FM 407 and FM 2264, where the shooting happened just after 8 p.m. The sheriff’s department told people to avoid the area and not answer their doors, the Messenger said.
A reward of up to $5,000 is being offered for tips leading to an arrest, according to the sheriff’s office. Call Crime Stoppers of Wise County at 800-643-TIPS (8477) or 940-627-TIPS (8477).
This story was originally published June 13, 2021 at 9:46 PM.
