Aggravated robbery suspect arrested after shooting at officers during chase, officials say

WFAA crews on scene reported seeing dozens of evidence markers scattered around a car covered in bullet holes.

DALLAS, Texas — A suspect in an aggravated robbery was shot after firing at officers during a pursuit that stretched roughly 20 miles across four cities and ended in an officer-involved shooting near Alpha Road in Far North Dallas.

According to The Colony Police Department, officers responded to a reported aggravated robbery at a local restaurant around 11:23 p.m. on July 29. Investigators say the suspect displayed a firearm and demanded money from a group outside the business before fleeing. A late-night business owner told reporters they called police after witnessing the attempted robbery in their parking lot.

This story continues below.

The Colony officers used video evidence to identify the Jeep’s license plate and ran it through the department’s Flock Safety license plate reader system, which tracked the vehicle heading toward Plano, according to a press release The Colony Police Department. Investigators also connected the vehicle to a separate incident in Carrollton.

The chase moves through Plano and Richardson

License plate reader technology led officers to the suspect’s father’s residence in Plano, where officers tried to make contact. The suspect fled, sparking a pursuit that was called off after officers lost sight of the vehicle near Custer Road and West Renner Road, close to the Richardson city line. Plano Police notified Richardson Police of the situation.

Around 2 a.m., Richardson officers located the Jeep and the suspect fled again, this time leading police into Dallas, according to Richardson Police.

Shots fired near 635 and Preston Road

During the pursuit, the suspect fired at officers, who returned fire, according to Richardson Police. The vehicle was ultimately disabled near Alpha Road and Hughes Lane, in a residential area.

Neighbor Jose Hernandez said he heard the gunfire around 2:30 a.m. “I was on the floor crawling,” he said. “Like I said, my room is kind of facing the street, so I could clearly hear it — immediately I just got on the ground.”

Neighbor Emanuel Cardoza said he counted more than 100 evidence markers left in the street afterward. “It continued for a solid 10, 20 seconds — just straight gunfire,” he said.

Photos from the scene showed a police cruiser struck by bullets from the windshield to the hood and the fender.

Richardson Police identified the suspect as 34-year-old Ryan Edward Drouin. He was shot and taken to a local hospital with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound, according to police. No officers were injured.

Investigation and jurisdiction

The Dallas Police Department will investigate the officer-involved shooting, since it occurred within Dallas city limits. Richardson Police say they are the only agency involved in the shooting itself, while The Colony Police Department’s investigation into the original aggravated robbery is ongoing.