New details have emerged in the shooting of Dallas ISD Police Officer Justin Jones, who was wounded last week after a man he was attempting to help allegedly grabbed the officer\u2019s firearm and shot him in a Sam\u2019s Club parking lot.<\/p>\n
Jones, 39, is expected<\/a> to recover and was alert and talking on Tuesday while remaining in intensive care. He underwent surgery after being shot in the leg, with the bullet striking his femoral artery.<\/p>\n Officer Was Trying To Help Man Walking Along LBJ<\/p>\n The shooting happened<\/a> shortly before 11 a.m. Thursday in a parking lot between Walmart and Sam\u2019s Club in the 4100 block of I-635 near Midway Road.<\/p>\n According to an arrest affidavit, Jones was on routine patrol around 10:39 a.m. when a man flagged him down and reported that the man\u2019s coworker, identified as 27-year-old Jose Santiago Pantoja-Morales, had gotten out of a vehicle and was walking along the center median of the LBJ Freeway.<\/p>\n Jones located Pantoja-Morales around 10:41 a.m. and brought him into his patrol vehicle, apparently in an effort to get him off the busy freeway and to a safer location. Jones then drove to the nearby shopping center.<\/p>\n Struggle Began in Parking Lot<\/p>\n The affidavit states that Jones noticed<\/a> Pantoja-Morales going through his work bag and removing items while sitting in the back of the patrol vehicle. Jones got out of the vehicle and took an item from Pantoja-Morales. The officer then pulled him from the back seat and attempted to turn him toward the patrol vehicle.<\/p>\n The two began struggling and eventually went to the ground, with Jones on top, according to the affidavit. During the struggle, Pantoja-Morales allegedly gained control of Jones\u2019 firearm and shot the officer in the right leg.<\/p>\n The gunshot struck Jones\u2019 femoral artery, causing serious injury.<\/p>\n Suspect Said He Shot Officer To Escape<\/p>\n Dallas police located<\/a> Pantoja-Morales about a mile away in the north alley of 400 High Summit<\/a>, according to the affidavit.<\/p>\n He briefly ran from officers before surrendering at gunpoint. Investigators reported seeing blood on his boots and shirt.<\/p>\n After being taken into custody, Pantoja-Morales admitted that he took Jones\u2019 firearm and shot the officer \u201cso that he could get away,\u201d according to the affidavit.<\/p>\n He is charged with aggravated assault of a public servant and is being held on $500,000 bond. Jail records also show<\/a> an immigration hold.<\/p>\n Fellow Officer Helped Save Jones\u2019 Life<\/p>\n Another Dallas ISD police officer arrived<\/a> at the scene and applied a tourniquet to Jones\u2019 leg, an action officials believe helped save his life.<\/p>\n Dallas Fire-Rescue also had blood available in the ambulance and administered<\/a> it while transporting Jones to Parkland Memorial Hospital.<\/p>\n Jones underwent surgery and was initially listed in critical condition before being stabilized.<\/p>\n