A Terrell Police officer was gunned down during an altercation with a suspect outside a local motel late Sunday, authorities said.
Officer Jacob Candanoza initiated a traffic stop in the parking lot of Motel 8 before seeking backup when things escalated.
Fellow offices found Candanoza suffering from a gunshot wound after receiving multiple 911 calls from witnesses.
The suspect fled the scene in a truck but was arrested after crashing his vehicle while being pursued.
Officer Candanoza succumbed to his injuries at a hospital. He leaves behind a wife and a child.
“Our deepest condolences go out to his family as they navigate this tragic time,” the department said.
His death marks the first line of duty fatality of the Terrell Police Department in more than four decades.
