Tucker, who was shot in the head during the incident, was in critical condition at Scott & White Memorial Hospital on Thursday night under guard of Bell County Sheriff’s deputies.
Cameron Police Chief Patrick Guffey said law officers were looking for Tucker on Wednesday to serve a second-degree felony warrant charging him with possession of a controlled substance when an armed robbery was reported. Investigators identified Tucker from a store’s security video.
Warrants are to be issued for Tucker in connection with armed robberies at the Movie Gallery and Sunny Food Mart, where about $10,000 was taken from the two stores. In both cases, the man took the clerk’s vehicle, which later were found abandoned. The cash has not been found, Guffey said.
Acting on a tip that Tucker was seen in Heidenheimer, Guffey, Cameron police officers Greg Eakens and Heith Kemper, and Milam County Constable Herbie Vaughan drove up to a Heidenheimer gas station just as two Bell County officers arrived. After Tucker exited the store “we had an armed confrontation in the gas station parking lot,” Guffey said.
“We challenged each other, but there were civilians around, so we kept him occupied and got people out of the area,” Guffey said.
Tucker would wave his handgun, “holler at us and take off walking.”
Law officers from Cameron never fired their weapons during the standoff, Guffey said.
Temple police responded shortly after 6 p.m. with tactical assistance and equipment to help contain and arrest the suspect, Sgt. Allen Teston, Temple Police Department public information officer, said in a press release.
The armored vehicle was part of the assistance, which was manned by members of the special weapons and tactics unit (SWAT).
When they arrived at the field the suspect was seen moving in the direction of homes located along FM 436.
The Temple officers approached the suspect and used less lethal munitions in an effort to subdue him, Teston said.
The suspect then fired at Temple officers, striking the marked police rescue vehicle several times.
In response to the deadly threat, a Temple police officer and a Bell County deputy both fired their weapons at the suspect, striking him at least once, Bell County Sheriff Dan Smith said in a press release.
The investigation is ongoing and it is unknown at this stage which officer struck Tucker.
Once wounded, the suspect then placed the firearm under his chin and pulled the trigger, Smith said. At that time he was handcuffed and emergency medical aid was provided. He was taken to Scott & White by helicopter.
The Temple Police Department criminal investigations division, the Bell County Sheriff’s office, the Texas Rangers and the Cameron Police Department are investigating. At this time, the case is considered to be attempted capital murder of a police officer, Teston said.
The two officers that fired their weapons are on administrative leave pending a review of the shooting. This is usual procedure, he said.
The prosecution of the suspect will be coordinated between Milam County and Bell County district attorneys.
