North Texas police officer shot and killed during traffic stop, police say
A Terrell police officer was shot and killed while conducting a traffic stop on Sunday night, Dec. 8, and a suspect was arrested after a manhunt.
Officer Jacob Candanoza, 28, initiated a traffic stop on a pickup truck with an expired Mississippi license plate and requested backup at a Super 8 motel parking lot at 1618 Texas 34 S., the Terrell Police Department said.
Around the same time, the Police Department’s communication division received two 911 calls regarding an officer being shot, while the additional units were getting dispatched, the post said.
When officers responded to the scene, they confirmed that Candanoza had been shot. After immediate medical attention was administered, he was transported to Baylor Scott and White Hospital in Forney, where he later died.
“Our deepest condolences go out to the family as they navigate this tragic time,” the department said.
The Texas Highway Patrol and off-duty officers were able to find and pursue the suspect vehicle using the license plate number Candanoza provided during the initial traffic stop. The suspect was taken into custody and has been identified as 25-year-old Darrian Cortez Johnson.
Officers chased Johnson until he crashed his truck and ran into a wooded area, authorities said. He was arrested Monday morning after a search that lasted about seven hours.
He was booked into the Kaufman County Jail and faces a charge of capital murder of a peace officer.
Candanoza was a husband and father of a young child, according to the Officer Down Memorial Facebook page. He had served with Terrell police since July. He previously served as a U.S. Marine and with the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office.
He was the first Terrell police officer killed in the line of duty since 1980.
This story was originally published December 9, 2024 at 10:53 AM.