DALLAS — The Dallas officer shot while following a suspect vehicle in March is making progress in his recovery, officials say.
Dallas police shared a photo April 23 of the officer walking out of rehabilitation.
"Friends, family and law enforcement were there to cheer him on as he continues his recovery," the Dallas Police Department post read.
At a press conference, Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia said the incident started at about 12:45 a.m. March 14. Officers were working "in a covert capacity" when they said they saw a vehicle driving erratically in the 3200 block of Easter Avenue.
Police decided to follow the vehicle when they said one the suspects shot at officers who were in an unmarked car. Garcia said the suspect, 17-year-old Jaheart Nickelberry, crested a hill and U-turned and fired five times at the unmarked police car. The injured officer was shot in his hip after a bullet went through the vehicle's driver side door.
"I know for a fact that my officers prevented further violent crimes from being committed that night and future crimes," Garcia said during a press conference. "We are lucky we did not lose an officer that day."
Video of the incident shows the suspect vehicle drive past the police vehicle and shots can be heard. Dash cam footage also shows the ensuing chase, and Nickelberry can be seen running out of the car with a gun in hand.
Nickelberry has been charged with two additional aggravated robberies Garcia said occurred previously, including one in Dallas hours before the shooting and another incident in Glenn Heights in Ellis County involving a home invasion and an officer-involved shooting where one of the suspects was killed. Garcia said Nickelberry was the suspected driver in the case.
Garcia said a second gun was found near I-20 and West Wheatland Road after it was thrown out of the suspect vehicle's window during the chase.
Dallas police said the officer has since underwent surgery and is recovering. Police have not identified the officer but Garcia said he is a 4-year veteran attached to the tactical/special operations bureau who was working overtime in a covert capacity.
Police continued going after the suspect vehicle and eventually arrested five people in the 7200 block of Chesterfield Drive.
None of the officers fired their weapons, according to officials.
Police said two of the suspects were taken to a hospital. One was taken for chest pain and the other was for non-life-threatening injuries.
Five suspects were initially detained, but three face charges as of March 21: Nickelberry faces charges of aggravated assault, evading arrest/detention, aggravated robbery and theft, police said.
A 15-year-old girl, who was not being named, was arrested on a charge of evading arrest/detention.
On March 21, police arrested D'Adrian Starling, 17, who's suspected of running from the scene in the 7200 block of Chesterfield Avenue, on a complaint of evading arrest.
According to Dallas police, two guns were recovered in the incident. They said one was inside the suspect vehicle and another one was thrown out of the vehicle.
Police also said the suspect vehicle was stolen.
This incident is still under investigation.
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