DALLAS — A Dallas police officer was shot Thursday while responding to a shooting in progress, the Dallas Police Department said.
According to DPD, officers were driving in the 4800 block of Scyene Road when they witnessed a suspect – identified Friday as 45-year-old Juan Vincente Zavala Lopez – firing into a vehicle. When they turned their car around to respond, DPD said Zavala Lopez opened fire on the officers.
As the officers began returning fire, DPD said Zavala Lopez entered a car and drove away from the scene, and a chase began.
DPD said Zavala Lopez then began firing at officers again near the 4700 block of Second Avenue and an officer was shot in the chest, but was saved by the bullet proof vest he was wearing.
The officer was transported to a local hospital in an unknown condition, but DPD said they’re in stable condition.
Zavala Lopez ran away from the scene on foot. Shortly after 8 p.m., Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia posted to X, formerly known as Twitter, to announce that Zavala Lopez was in custody.
A statement from the Dallas Police Department said he was taken into custody in 2000 block of South Valley Parkway in Lewisville.
DPD also said that the victim in the initial shooting call died from their injuries, and that their name will be released when next of kin is notified. According to an arrest affidavit obtained by WFAA, the victim was shot in the torso multiple times. The department added that it determined that the initial shooting was not random, and that the victim and suspect knew each other.
Chief Garcia said he visited with the officer who was shot, and that the officer was in good spirits.
"We're very lucky today," Garcia said.
Garcia then pleaded with the suspect to turn himself in.
Zavala Lopez was charged with murder and one count of Aggravated Assault in the homicide on Scyene Road, and four counts of Aggravated Assault Peace Officer. He was taken to the Dallas County jail.
WFAA's Rebecca Lopez reports that this is the ninth shooting involving an officer for Dallas PD in 2023, and the seventh where the officer was fired at first.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.