FORT WORTH, TX – A Tarrant County deputy is recovering at home after being shot three times while attempting to serve an arrest warrant on a suspect wanted for child sex crimes. The incident escalated into a tense standoff, culminating in the suspect’s death.
The confrontation began around noon on Wednesday when deputies arrived at a residence near Northeast 28th Street and Beech Street to serve three felony warrants related to the sexual assault of a child. As officers approached the house, the suspect opened fire from inside, hitting Deputy Todd Tipton multiple times.
The situation quickly intensified, prompting the Fort Worth Police SWAT team to be called in for backup. At one point, officers feared the suspect might be holding hostages inside the home. After a prolonged standoff and an exchange of gunfire, the SWAT team managed to gain control of the situation. The suspect was found dead, though it remains unclear whether his fatal wound was self-inflicted or the result of police gunfire.
Eyewitnesses described a chaotic scene. Emanuel Camacho, who was working at a nearby tire shop, recalled hearing a barrage of sirens and seeing law enforcement officers rushing to the scene. “I just saw a bunch of people running in, and then the SWAT team showed up,” he said.
During the standoff, the neighborhood was evacuated as a precaution. Rudolph Garza, a local resident, was alerted to the situation by his daughter and later reviewed his home security footage, which showed officers stationed in his driveway and up and down the street.
The suspect’s identity has not been released, but neighbors indicated that police had been to the home before. Several SWAT officers sustained injuries from broken glass while entering the house, though they were treated on the scene.
Authorities continue to investigate the incident, including the cause of the fire that broke out inside the home during the standoff. The community remains on edge as they await further details on the tragic events that unfolded in their neighborhood.