It was gathered that the incident occurred around 5 p.m. on Saturday when a Texas Highway Patrol Trooper attempted to stop a pickup truck, according to Sgt. Bryan Washko of the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS).
A chaotic police pursuit ended tragically when a fleeing driver crashed into a Texas mall, injuring five people and losing his life after being shot by law enforcement.
It was gathered that the incident occurred around 5 p.m. on Saturday when a Texas Highway Patrol Trooper attempted to stop a pickup truck, according to Sgt. Bryan Washko of the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS).
However, the driver led officers on a 19-mile chase before veering into the mall, striking four bystanders.
Responding officers fatally shot the suspect inside the mall. Sgt. Washko confirmed the details at a news conference, stating, "The suspect's actions endangered multiple lives, forcing law enforcement to intervene decisively."
CNN reports that the man driving the vehicle was reported as possibly driving while intoxicated, according to Washko.
After exiting the highway, the suspect entered the Killeen Mall parking lot and drove through the glass doors of a JCPenney store’s main entrance, Washko said.
“The suspect drove through the doors and continued to travel through the JCPenney store, striking multiple people,” he added.
Four people were injured by the pickup truck as it drove through the mall and were taken to a hospital, while a fifth victim sought medical attention independently, Washko stated.
Troopers and local police pursued the truck on foot through the mall and exchanged gunfire with the suspect to neutralize the threat, Washko said.
Killeen Police spokesperson Ofelia Miramontez told the Killeen Daily Herald that “a pursuit came in from Belton,” a city approximately 19 miles east of Killeen.
Nathan Carrasco recounted witnessing the incident while in his car with friends in the Killeen Mall parking lot. He said they saw a truck drive through the JCPenney door, hitting people.
Carrasco noted that two police vehicles were in pursuit of the truck. Just as officers were about to corner the vehicle, it drove through the department store.
Carrasco and his friends quickly got out of their car to assist the victims. “There were people lying on the floor with glass everywhere,” he said, describing how others rushed to help a woman and a young girl who was bleeding.
Rose and Will Parker told CNN they were near the coffee shop by JCPenney when they heard gunshots and saw people running.
“I grabbed my wife, and we went into the coffee shop. We locked up in a back room,” Will Parker said.
They remained in the coffee shop for about 15 minutes until a security guard escorted them out of the mall.
“It was a mess,” Parker said. “I’m thankful to the gentleman, the security guy, that helped us out.”
Authorities have not yet identified the suspect, Washko said. “We need to find out who he was, where he’s coming from, why he’s running,” he explained. “All those questions need to be answered.”