By Zanub Saeed
A shooting took place at a Taco Bell in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area on Sunday, where an off-duty officer shot and wounded a man he believed was reaching for a handgun, said police reports.
In a written statement sent to local Dallas press, Police Sr. Corporal and spokeswoman Melinda Gutierrez said the officer, named Cortenay Howard, aged 39, entered the Taco Bell shortly after 10:00am on Sunday, at the store found at Camp Wisdom Road and Cockrell Hill Blvd., said WFAA-TV. The suspect, who also was named but was listed as being 18 years old, was seen to be holding a marijuana cigarette "in plain view," according to the police report, when the officer was inside the fast-food restaurant.
"The officer saw the suspect reaching for his weapon and fearing for his safety, discharged his firearm at the suspect," Gutierrez told the press. "I do not know if the suspect fired his weapon."
The suspect shot was reportedly taken to Methodist Dallas Medical Center for treatment, though his condition was not revealed publicly, said WFAA-TV. A nearby Dallas worker saw the events that took place and gave her perspective on the shooting.
The officer in question was a 10-year veteran named Cortenay Howard, according to the Dallas News, of the Dallas Police Department and was not found to be injured, said the report. The Dallas Police Department Special Investigations Unit are currently looking into the incident, said the Dallas NBC affiliate.
Howard shot the suspect twice, according to the Dallas News, including once in the stomach. The man fell to the floor as a result. Howard then handcuffed the shot suspect and called for police backup. A second officer showed up to the scene to assist; the culprit now faces an aggravated assault charge, said the Dallas News.
"It happened so fast," Yolanda Brown told WFAA-TV. "So many police cars came so fast, and I was looking, but I knew what was going on once I saw them bringing the guys out handcuffed... I knew what was going on, basically."
"They brought two suspects out, handcuffed," Brown continued. "They put them in the car. I also saw one suspect get into the ambulance."
