2 Haltom City officers injured in shootout transferred to rehab center

Two Haltom City police officers who were shot Saturday during a shootout with a gunman who murdered two people have left one hospital and are moving to a rehab center.

HALTOM CITY, Texas - Two Haltom City police officers who were shot last weekend during a shootout with a gunman who murdered two people have left one hospital and are moving to a rehab center.

A line of police and fire units were at Medical City North Hills in North Richland Hills Friday afternoon to serve as a motorcade to escort the recovering Corporal Zach Tabler and Officer Jose Avila to the rehab center.

The third officer who was wounded in the shooting, Officer Tim Barton, is recovering at home with his family.

Friday just hours after the officers were released, hundreds showed up to Cowtown Brewing in Fort Worth for a benefit supporting the three Haltom City officers.

Gary Tabler is Corporal Tabler’s father.

"We have been with him every day so far," he said.

Tabler says his son was born to protect. After serving a deployment in the Middle East, Corporal Tabler came home to start his career as a police officer in Haltom City.

"Whenever he was in the 101st in Afghanistan. One of the happiest joyous times of our lives when we got the phone call, he was wheels up leaving Afghanistan," he said.

Meanwhile, the community continues to stand behind the department.

"We were expecting a big crowd, but this is overwhelming for sure," said Cowtown Brewing Co-Founder Shawn Kidwell.

Kidwell is donating all proceeds of his new beer to the families of the three officers. In addition, customers could purchase t-shirts and raffle tickets.

Barton, who was released Sunday morning 24 hours after he was shot, was also in attendance.

"When an officer goes down and is wounded and can’t work, we step in and fill that gap for them as much as we can," said Haltom City Law Enforcement Association President Jason Michlitsch.

Michlitsch says his priority is making sure the trio of officers’ only focus is recovery.

"You see officers go toward the sound of gunfire. That is what we do. That is what we signed up for," he said.

Tabler is proud to know his son never hesitated as he was ambushed.

"All three of them, that’s the type of men they are," he said.

The shootout with police happened July 2 after officers were called to the 5700 block of Diamond Oaks Drive about a shooting.

Before officers responded, police said the suspect, 28-year-old Edward Freyman, shot and killed 33-year-old Collin Davis and 32-year-old Amber Tsai.

Freyman also reportedly shot an elderly neighbor who reported the shooting to police. She was taken to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Responding officers were immediately met with gunfire from the suspect inside the home, resulting in the three officers being injured.

Freyman later shot and killed himself, police said.