CCPD officials, witness speak out after officer involved shooting leaves one in critical condition

Chief Markle said a homicide suspect opened fire on officers during a traffic stop on Friday. One officer is in critical condition. The suspect is in CCPD custody.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Two Corpus Christi police officers were hospitalized Friday afternoon, one in critical condition, after a shootout with a homicide suspect on the city’s westside. A third officer also suffered minor injuries from shrapnel and was treated by medics at the scene.

Chief of Police Mike Markle said the officer involved shooting happened just minutes after officers were called to another shooting around 2:45 p.m. near Ayers Street and McArdle Road.

Officers initially responded to the first scene and found a man suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.

“When officers arrived, they located a male with several gunshot wounds and immediately began administering first aid,” Corpus Christi Police Department Public Information Officer Madeline Vaughn said. “Medics with the Corpus Christi Fire Department, they arrived and transported the male to a local hospital with critical injuries.”

The victim later died at the hospital, police said.

Shortly afterward around 3:30 p.m., officers located the suspect’s vehicle nearby and attempted a traffic stop near Port Avenue and Agnes Street, according to Chief Markle.

“Officers found the suspect’s vehicle, which is the white van that you saw down the road down here, which is the suspect vehicle to that homicide,” Markle said during a press conference Friday night. “When they pulled that vehicle over and contacted the driver, who is the suspect of that homicide, a gun fight ensued. The suspect produced a weapon and started shooting.”

Markle said the suspect, a 38-year-old man, exchanged gunfire with officers.

“I have two officers shot. One in critical condition and I have a third officer who has some minor injuries from some shrapnel,” Markle said. “So we’re evaluating that right now. All officers are in the hospital as is the suspect.”

Police said the suspect is now in stable condition.

The shootout prompted a large police response, with more than a dozen police vehicles surrounding the area where the officers were injured.

Residents in the neighborhood said they were startled by the violence.

“I heard a couple of gunshots and then I heard like two more gunshots,” said John Black, who lives on Agnes Street. “And then I saw a lot of police officers coming in and I was like ‘what’s going on?’ There was more than one. They just kept going, going, going. I was like ‘something’s going down.’”

Markle said the officers involved in the shooting will be placed on administrative leave, per department policy.

“We de-stress them, we go through the incident, and make sure that everything is according to policy and training,” Markle said.

Police said there is no continued threat to the public, describing the incident as involving a single homicide suspect who is now in custody at a local hospital.

The investigation is ongoing, and authorities said additional details are expected to be released as they become available.

CCPD officials, witness speak out after officer involved shooting leaves one in critical condition

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