The suspect in the fatal shooting of a state trooper in East Texas during a Thanksgiving Day traffic stop was charged Friday with capital murder of a law enforcement officer.
Dabrett Black, 32, was being held in the Brazos County jail in Bryan, Texas, about 100 miles (160 kilometers) northwest of Houston. He is accused in the shooting death of Trooper Damon Allen on Thursday.
The Texas Department of Public Safety said in social media posts late Thursday that Allen initiated a traffic stop shortly before 4 p.m. on Interstate 45 near Fairfield, about 90 miles (145 kilometers) south of Dallas. DPS said Black shot Allen with a rifle after the trooper walked back to his vehicle.
Allen died at the scene, DPS officials said. He had been with the department since 2002 and was married with three children.
DPS said Black, of Lindale, Texas, fled the scene in a car and was spotted about three hours later more than 100 miles (160 kilometers) south of Fairfield, in Waller County. Waller County sheriff’s officers posted on Facebook that deputies were attempting to take Black into custody when shots were fired. It was not clear from the statement who opened fire.
Black fled on foot and was taken into custody after being found in a nearby field. He was treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
No bond had been set as of early Friday afternoon, but officials said a bond hearing would likely be held later in the day.
According to court and jail records, Black has a history of evading arrest and violent run-ins with law enforcement officers.
Smith County court records show Black was indicted last month after he led police on a chase and rammed his car into a police cruiser in July. Court records show he was charged with aggravated assault of a public servant and evading arrest or detention with a vehicle. Jail records show that he was out on bond on those charges and that the bond had been recalled as insufficient due to the new charges.
Smith County court records also show Black was charged in 2015 with assault on a public servant and attempting to take a weapon from an officer. Those charges were dismissed in 2016, but records didn’t explain why.
Brazos County jail records also showed Black was facing a charge of evading arrest with a vehicle in Anderson County, east of where the shooting occurred Thursday. Details of the charges, including the date of the alleged offense, were unclear from those records that said his bond had been forfeited. A call to Anderson County court officials was not immediately returned Friday.
A call to a court-appointed attorney representing Black in the Smith County charges was also not immediately returned Friday. It was unclear from Brazos County records whether Black has an attorney representing him in the capital murder case.
Several Texas officials reacted to Allen’s death. In a tweet, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz offered “prayers for the family and loved ones” of the trooper.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott called Allen’s shooting death a “heinous crime” in a statement Thursday. Abbott also expressed his “most sincere condolences” to the trooper’s family.
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A Texas state trooper was shot and killed during a Thanksgiving traffic stop in East Texas.
The Texas Department of Public Safety released a statement on its Twitter account Thursday night identifying the trooper as Damon Allen, 41. DPS said Allen joined the department in 2002 and was married with three children.
"Texas Highway Patrol Trooper Damon Allen was a loving husband and father of three."
— Texas DPS (@TxDPS) November 24, 2017
Texas Trooper Damon Allen, 41, joined the department in 2002.
— Texas DPS (@TxDPS) November 24, 2017
The agency also said it will file capital murder charges against Dabrett Black, 32, of Lindale, Texas.
Allen was shot and killed before 4 p.m. Thursday during a traffic stop on Interstate 45 near Fairfield, about 90 miles (145 kilometers) south of Dallas, according to DPS. The department said Allen was shot with a rifle and died at the scene. The suspect then fled.
Hours after the shooting, the Waller County Sheriff’s Office said the suspect’s vehicle was spotted in Hempstead, about 110 miles (177 kilometers) south of Fairfield. The sheriff’s office said on its Facebook page that shots were fired, but did not indicate who opened fire.
Black was apprehended a short time later. The Department of Public Safety said he’s being treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
KYTX-TV reported in July that Black was charged with evading arrest, reckless driving and aggravated assault against a public servant following a police chase in Smith County.
Several Texas officials reacted to Allen’s death. In a tweet, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz offered “prayers for the family and loved ones” of the trooper.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott called Allen’s shooting death a “heinous crime” in a statement Thursday. Abbott also expressed his “most sincere condolences” to the trooper’s family.
"Trooper Allen's dedication to duty, and his bravery and selfless sacrifice on this Thanksgiving Day, will never be forgotten."
— Texas DPS (@TxDPS) November 24, 2017
"We ask for your prayers for his entire family and his many friends and colleagues during the difficult days ahead."
— Texas DPS (@TxDPS) November 24, 2017
"Texas Highway Patrol Trooper Damon Allen was a loving husband and father of three."
— Texas DPS (@TxDPS) November 24, 2017
The lone suspect fled in the Malibu south on I-45 & is identified as Dabrett Black, 32, of Lindale, TX. He is considered armed & dangerous
— Texas DPS (@TxDPS) November 24, 2017
The Trooper returned to the patrol unit, and the suspect fired multiple shots from a rifle at the Trooper. The Trooper died at the scene.
— Texas DPS (@TxDPS) November 24, 2017
Preliminary information indicates the Trooper approached the vehicle & made contact with the driver.
— Texas DPS (@TxDPS) November 24, 2017
At approx 3:45pm, a TX Trooper stopped a 2012 Chevrolet Malibu for a traffic violation on SB I-45 in Freestone County south of Fairfield.
— Texas DPS (@TxDPS) November 24, 2017