Who Is Dabrett Black? Texas DPS Trooper Shooting Suspect Arrested
A manhunt was launched Thursday for a suspect after a Texas trooper was shot and killed on a highway near the city of Fairfield. The suspect was later captured in Waller County near Prairie View, authorities said.
Identified as Dabrett Montreal Black, the suspect fled the scene after shooting at the unidentified trooper working for the Department of Public Safety. Black was considered armed and dangerous.
Officials in Limestone and Freestone counties came together to conduct a massive search for Black and described him as a black male, 5' 11" weighing 175 pounds. He left the scene of the shooting in a gray Chevrolet Malibu with the license plate number JDN4273.
The Texas Department of Public Safety reported that the trooper pulled over Black’s vehicle for a traffic violation. He then returned to the patrol unit after which the suspect fired multiple shots with a rifle at him, killing him on the scene.
The Navarro County Office of Emergency Management said Black was caught by collaborating with numerous agencies and no additional casualties were reported.
A report by KBTX, citing police scanner traffic, said two women may have been in the suspect’s car when the incident happened.
It was reported that last month, a Dabrett Montreal Black of Lindale was indicted by a Smith County Grand Jury on two felony charges stemming from a chase involving Smith County deputies in July. Lindale News and Times stated that Black allegedly crashed into a deputy’s car when he was being chased by Smith County deputies. At the time, he was stopped by a deputy for speeding and having defective equipment on his car. He faced charges of first-degree felony, aggravated assault against a public servant and evading arrest, a third-degree felony.
Meanwhile, according to KBTX, Black was last booked into the Smith County jail in Tyler on Sept. 7, 2017 on the same charges.
Following news of the trooper’s death, Waller County Sherrif’s Office said on Facebook that they were saddened by the death of a “brother.”
Texas Governor Greg Abbott also issued the following statement late Thursday:
"With heavy hearts on this Thanksgiving, Cecilia and I express our most sincere condolences to the family, colleagues and friends of the Trooper who was callously killed today in the line of duty. As law enforcement continues to search for the individual responsible for this heinous crime, I ask that all of Texas keep this Trooper and his brothers and sisters in blue in their thoughts and prayers. The killer will face justice, and the State of Texas will continue to offer our unwavering support for the men and women in law enforcement who keep our communities safe."
Multiple reports said Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton released a statement that stated: "I am saddened to hear of the tragic death of a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper killed today in Freestone County. This trooper died selflessly serving Texas. Please join Angela and me as we pray for the trooper's family and for the entire Department of Public Safety."
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