Newly-released helicopter footage shows a deadly shootout involving a state trooper and a suspect who was leading a car chase on a highway in Texas.
In the video, released by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), a man can be seen driving away from police vehicles as officials in a helicopter can be heard providing updates on his location.
The footage shows the driver opening his car door as the vehicle was still in motion, before completely exiting the vehicle as it came to a full stop. He can then be seen firing at a trooper, who was shot in the arm.
The suspect, later identified as 33-year-old Ernest Manuel Montelongo of San Antonio, was shot by a state trooper in the exchange of gunfire at the scene and later died from his injuries, according to the Associated Press.
DPS spokesman Sergeant Deon Cockrell said at the time of the February incident that the suspect was stopped for a traffic violation and allegedly gave police officers a fake name before fleeing the scene as officers tried to arrest him. Mr Cockrell said the suspect was travelling the wrong way in traffic.
“It was a traffic violation that initiated the stop by the trooper,” Mr Cockrell said during a press conference.
Towards the end of the video, a police officer can be seen rushing to the aid of the wounded officer. The helicopter then lands nearby the scene and transports the wounded trooper to a hospital.
DPS had reported that the wounded officer was recovering well from his injuries, according to local reports.
