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Slain Terrell police officer remembered at vigil
Dozens of family members, friends and brothers and sisters in blue came out on Sunday night to remember fallen Terrell police officer Jacob Candanoza. Officer Candanoza was shot and killed while on the job.
CEDAR HILL, Texas - Dozens of family members, friends and brothers and sisters in blue came out on Sunday night to remember fallen Terrell police officer Jacob Candanoza.
The vigil, held at his father's roller skating rink, comes one week after Candanoza was killed in the line of duty.
Officer Jacob Candanoza (Source: Terrell Police Department)
David Candanoza, Jacob's father, says he has spent the last week reading every comment, post and handwritten letter about his son.
"Chokes me up. I get choked up every day. Every second just reading all these things and people coming by," said Candanoza.
Police say Officer Candanoza was shot and killed after he pulled over a pickup truck in a Super 8 Motel parking lot in Terrell.
The driver, Darrian Cortez Johnson, drove off after the shooting, but was taken into custody several hours later near the Kaufman and Van Zandt county line.
Terrell police officer shot and killed after pulling over truck with expired plates
Police say the officer pulled over a truck with expired license plates from Mississippi and called for cover. But before backup arrived, he was shot multiple times at close range.
David Candanoza says the support from the community has been overwhelming.
"It’s just crazy, crazy, I would never expect anything like this," he said.
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Vigil held for Greenville officer killed in shooting
Officer Cooper Dawson is being remembered as a valued public servant, father and husband. He was also a proud military veteran.
On Wednesday, the Terrell Police Department held a vigil to honor the fallen officer.
His dad wanted to do something for those in Cedar Hill who couldn't make it.
"I just can’t thank people enough, I’m so thankful," Candanoza said.
The support continues for Candanoza's wife and daughter.
People are collecting and donating toys for the young girl to open at Christmas.
"You don’t expect that, you don’t expect that from people I don’t even know," Candanoza said.
David Candanoza says his son was a legend at his rink in Cedar Hill.
"If you tagged Jacob, that was like a badge of honor. ‘Hey I tagged Jacob!’ It wasn’t easy," he remembered. "He really was just a class act."
Saturday would have been Officer Candanoza's 29th birthday.
His dad says family members got together at his grandmother's house to honor him.
Officer Candanoza's funeral will be held on Tuesday at Lake Point Church in Rockwall.