Suspect in officer-involved shooting carjacked two vehicles, including Killeen police patrol unit

KILLEEN, Texas (KWTX) - The Killeen Police Department on Monday identified Michael Swan and Jennifer Amezquita as the two police officers who will be placed on administrative leave, as per protocol, in the shooting of an armed carjacking suspect who stole two vehicles, including a police patrol unit, Sunday afternoon.

The Texas Rangers are now the lead investigative agency handling the case. Swan is a 16-year veteran of the force while Amezquita had been with the department four years, police said..

At about 2:37 p.m. on Oct. 30, 2022, officers were dispatched to a carjacking call in the 3300 block of Veterans Memorial Boulevard after a suspect stole a white car at gunpoint, Killeen Police Chief Charles Kimble said in a news conference Sunday.

At about 2:48 p.m., police received a call about an armed suspect at the AutoZone located at 502 Veterans Memorial Boulevard. People inside the store reported seeing an armed man outside a white car acting irrationally, Kimble said.

Officers already in the area looking for the suspect immediately arrived at the AutoZone and the armed suspect ran away in the area of 10th Street in North Killeen.

Police said the suspect then jumped into the bed of a pickup, and when the occupants decided to exit the vehicle and run to safety, the suspect abandoned the pickup and ran away a second time, the police chief said.

Police continued to pursue the gunman, who then came across an unlocked police patrol unit with the engine running, Kimble said, and locked himself inside the unit.

The unlocked patrol unit belonged to an officer involved in the foot pursuit, the police chief said.

“As officers continued to give the suspect commands to disarm himself and surrender, he started to drive off” in the patrol unit, and “officers discharged their duty weapons, striking him,” police said in a news release.

The officers took the suspect into custody and he received medical care at the scene before being airlifted to a hospital in stable condition.

“On the surface, it looks like we’re dealing with someone who is dealing with mental health issues,” the police chief said.

The Texas Rangers are now investigating the incident.

COPYRIGHT 2022. KWTX TV. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.