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2 police officers killed during shootout in south Texas border city; gunman dies

By Bob D'Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk

2 Texas police officers fatally shot Audon Camarillo, 23, was identified as the gunman in the fatal shooting of two Texas police officers in the border city of McAllen. (Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office)

By Bob D'Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk

MCALLEN, Texas — Two Texas police officers were fatally shot Saturday after reportedly responding to a disturbance call, authorities said.

The officers were identified by McAllen police Chief Victor Rodriguez as Edelmiro Garza Jr., 45, and Officer Ismael Chavez, 39, CNN reported. Garza had been with the McAllen Police Department for nearly nine years, while Chavez had been on the force for about two and a half years, Rodriguez said.

Update 11:28 p.m. EDT July 11: Rodriguez identified the suspect as 23-year-old Audon Camarillo. Rodriguez said that when two additional officers arrived at the scene, they ordered Camarillo to drop his gun, CNN reported. Instead, Camarillo fatally shot himself, Rodriguez said.

Original report: The officers were shot on the south side of the Texas border city and taken to an area hospital, Lt. Christopher Olivarez, a spokesperson for the Texas Department of Public Safety, told The Associated Press. A suspect in the shooting also was shot, Olivarez said, but that person’s condition was not immediately available.

According to the officials with the Jourdanton Police Department, both of the officers were shot during an exchange with a suspect, KSAT reported.

“We have lost two brave public servants who sought only to keep peace in our city,” Rodriguez told The Monitor of McAllen.

Department of Public Safety troopers were sent to the area when the McAllen Police Department asked for assistance, Olivarez told The Monitor.

In a tweet, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said his office will provide assistance to the McAllen Police Department.

“Our prayers and full support are with the valiant men and women of the #CityofMcAllen PD this evening,” Paxton wrote. “We are grateful for police in McAllen and around this great state.”

In a statement, U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, of McAllen, said news of the shooting was “devastating.”

“This is devastating news to our community. My heart breaks for these fallen officers and their families,” Gonzalez said. “They served McAllen bravely and honorably and I will keep them in my prayers.”


Cox Media Group

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