A Mississippi man has been arrested in connection to the shooting death of a Texas police officer.
Darrian Cortez Johnson, 25, is charged with capital murder of a peace officer after allegedly opening fire and killing Terrell police officer Jacob Candanoza in a local motel parking lot on Sunday night.
The incident occurred when Candanoza initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle being operated by Johnson. Candanoza called for backup at the scene and a cover unit was sent his way. But before help could arrive, the Terrell Police Department Communications Division received two 911 calls regarding an officer being shot.
They then received a radio transmission from a citizen giving the same information. First responders rushed to the scene and administered medical care to the officer. Candanoza was transported to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Before the shooting, the officer had successfully given the license plate number of Johnson’s vehicle over to dispatch, aiding in law enforcement’s efforts to locate the suspect. Authorities later found the car near the Kaufman and Van Zandt County line. This prompted a pursuit, leading to a crash and Johnson’s escape into a wooded area.
Van Zandt County Sheriff Joe Carter requested assistance and was subsequently aided with more manpower as well as trained pack dogs and horses. After a multi-hour search, police located Johnson on horseback near a coffee shop located off Texas Highway 19 in the wee hours of Monday morning.
Johnson is currently locked up in the Kaufman County Jail with no bond. Ceremonies have been held in Terrell to commemorate Candanoza, who joined the town’s police force in July of this year. Donations to the slain officer’s family can be sent here.
