Dallas police officer shot in hand responding to apartment burglary call

DALLAS - A Dallas police sergeant answering a call at a Lake Highlands apartment was shot in the hand overnight.

Police tracked down the suspected gunman a short time later, and he was taken into custody.

Dallas police got a call of a burglary in progress at the Residents at Lake Highlands apartments after 1 a.m. Monday from someone inside a unit. 

Two officers responded, and one of them confronted a man who was banging and kicking on the door of a unit. Police say the man then pulled a gun and opened fire at the officer.

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Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia could not say if the officer was able to return fire. 

"It happened and unfolded very, very quickly. We do know the suspect, when he shot at least four times at the officer, he struck him once, actually, in the officer's gun hand," he said. "It's a serious injury to his hand officer, obviously. The officer is in stable condition. But they're going to be doing some more tests on his hand, they may have to do some surgery on his hand later on. I know that there's some bone hit, but he's just a very brave individual."

The chief says immediately after the shooting, the suspect fled the scene. Police put out a description of him, and the man was arrested shortly after with help from Mesquite police. They had responded to the shooting call Monday morning along with officers from Garland and Richardson. 

Neighbors who saw and heard the chaos described the frightening ordeal.

"I opened the window, and the officer got injured on the hand. I was so scared," said neighbor Sang Hi. "I have to sleep thinking of the officer. So sorry for the officer."

"We were asleep," said neighbor Jocelyn Quiones. "We just heard like a really big bang right next door to our window. It was really loud."

Quiones says their vehicle was hit by several bullets likely as she and her husband huddled inside their apartment trying to shield their baby girl. 

"My husband walked out ready to go to work, and he saw the bullet shots on his car," she recalled. "He tried to go to work, but they said he can’t because his car is now evidence."

Chief Garcia says he went to visit the wounded officer at Texas Health Presbyterian and is said to be in good spirits considering everything that happened.

"I just want to reiterate the bravery of individuals these men and women who responded to the scene, the bravery of a sergeant answering a call for service who was shot, and officers gave chase," he said. "The teamwork in this investigation just sends another example of the dangers that our men and women face every day. Again, we’re very fortunate as a department and as a city."

Monday afternoon, police identified the suspect as 25-year-old Roberto J. Morfin. He will be charged with aggravated assault of a public servant.