FORT WORTH, Texas _ Two Fort Worth police officers were shot Friday night as they responded to a call about a possible suicide in a house in Wedgwood, police officials said.
The officers were taken to JPS Hospital. One was in serious condition, the other had minor injuries, officials said. Both were expected to survive.
The 911 call came from the 3800 block of Wharton Drive. The online police log said, " ... .father has been shot in the head."
At a 10:20 p.m. news conference, police Sgt. Marc Povero, a police spokesman, said the initial call was received about 8:30 p.m.
"Two officers entered the house and found a dead elderly man in back bedroom," he said. "Someone in the house said there might be a witness in a shed in the back yard. When officers attempted to enter the shed, someone fired at them."
The officers, who were struck by gunfire, fired back.
The suspect remained in the shed at the time of the news conference, Povero said. Officers were "operating with extreme caution" by lobbing gas canisters at the shed from a distance.
One of the officers shot was a training officer. He was shot multiple times in the "extremities and chest," Povero said. A probationary officer with him was shot in the chest, but the bullet was deflected by his vest.
Neighbors reported hearing at least four gunshots. Dozens of police units converged on the residential neighborhood in far south Fort Worth, including SWAT units. Neighbors within a few blocks were asked to leave their houses until the situation stabilized.
Whether the person in the house committed suicide had not been confirmed by late Friday, Povero said.
Three officers have been shot in Tarrant County this year, including Euless officer David S. Hofer. He was killed March 1 while responding to a call at a city park and was ambushed by a 22-year-old drug addict who previously threatened to kill police.
Two weeks later, Fort Worth police officer Matt Pearce was critically injured after being shot while chasing fugitives. He was hospitalized for two months.
Arlington police officer Eddie Johnston was wounded in a shootout with a murder suspect in April. He was treated and released a few hours after being shot.
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