Veteran Officer Dead, Another Critically Injured In ShootingGRAND PRAIRIE, Texas -- A more than 6-hour standoff ended Friday afternoon when a SWAT team entered a deceased suspect's van after a veteran police officer was shot and killed and another wounded Friday outside a Grand Prairie Wal-Mart.
Police had a blue van with New Mexico license plates surrounded at the end of the Wal-Mart parking lot at Interstate 20 and Great Southwest Parkway until the standoff ended just before 3:45 p.m., NBC 5 reported. Man Holes Up At Wal-Mart After Shooting OfficersSee The Pictures The incident began about 8:45 a.m. Friday when an officer investigated a report of a van sitting in the lot all night with the engine running. When the officer got to the scene, he was shot. A second officer arrived a short time later and also was shot. Sgt. Gregory Hunter was taken to Arlington Medical Center, where he died at 12:20 p.m., NBC 5 reported. He was a 20-year veteran and the first black officer in Grand Prairie, officials said. Officer Bruce Seix was airlifted to Methodist Central following the shooting. He was listed in critical condition Friday afternoon. Detective John Brimmer said SWAT officers tried to negotiate with someone inside the van. SWAT officers also fired several rounds of tear gas into the van about 2:30 p.m. At least six police cars circled the blue van, which had several bullet holes in the windshield and side. Officers had their guns trained on the van. The suspect was deceased when officers entered the van. Some shoppers and employees inside the Wal-Mart store were evacuated, while others were taken to the back of the store for their safety, Brimmer said. They were let out of the store just before 4 p.m. Police also closed the access road along Great Southwest Parkway and Interstate 20 near the Wal-Mart. However, the roadways were reopened after the standoff ended.