Gunman shoots 3 Flower Mound police officers investigating call of suicidal person inside house, police say

Flower Mound police were working early Thursday to make contact with a man inside a house after he shot three officers responding to a call about a suicidal person Wednesday evening, the deparment says.

Paramedics cleared one of the officers at the scene, and the two others were taken to the hospital. Sgt. Jason Rachal said shortly after 11 p.m. that one of those two officers had been released, and about 12:15 a.m. Thursday, he said the same of the other.

The man who fired on the officers was still barricaded inside the home early Thursday, Rachal said, reporting that the man had come to the front door and yelled unintelligibly at officers.

A SWAT unit and crisis intervention team were on the scene, Rachal said. The man was believed to be alone inside the house.

Officers had responded about 7 p.m. to reports of a suicidal person inside a home in the 2900 block of Termaine Drive, a middle-class street lined with mostly one-story brick homes, and not far from Long Prairie Road and Cross Timbers Road, police said.

Rachal said officers who were dispatched to investigate the call of a suicidal person first interviewed the man’s wife, then moved toward the house to make contact with man. Suddenly he started firing through the door, he said.

One officer was hit in the chest but was wearing armor plating, Rachal said. Another officer with a shield also was hit, as was a third officer who was providing cover, he said.

Officers returned fire — “a volley between us,” Rachal said. Police then set up a perimeter. As of 11:45 p.m. there was no indication that they’d made contact with the man since he opened fire. The shot officer who remained at the home after being cleared by paramedics was continuing to help work the scene.

“We definitely had someone out there watching them tonight because that could’ve gone terribly wrong,” Rachal said, referring to the fact that all three officers survived.

Police asked people to avoid the area, saying that there was a heavy police presence and that the scene was still active.

Area law enforcement agencies quickly took to social media to offer their support to the Flower Mound Police Department.

”We stand ready to assist in any way needed. Your officers are in our prayers tonight,” Grapevine police posted to the Flower Mound police Facebook page.

Denton police wrote: ”Sending our thoughts and prayers to everyone involved. Please do not hesitate to reach out if your department needs anything at all.”

And the Garland Police Department said: “The GPD is praying for everyone involved and for a speedy recovery for the officers injured.”