A Cleburne officer was shot in the leg and a person pursued by police was killed after the chase reached a Sam’s Club.
BURLESON, Texas — Texas Rangers are investigating a shooting that left a Cleburne police officer wounded and the person officers had been pursuing dead Monday evening after a chase ended near a Sam’s Club in Burleson, authorities said.
The incident began about 6:50 p.m. Aug. 24 when Cleburne police responded to a report of a person brandishing a firearm from a vehicle, according to police. Officers arrived and a vehicle pursuit began, continuing through Alvarado before traveling north on Interstate 35W. The chase ended near the Sam’s Club at 600 N. Burleson Blvd., close to Texas 174. Authorities said gunfire followed, but investigators had not released a complete account Tuesday of how the shooting unfolded or who fired the shots that struck the officer and the person being pursued.
The Cleburne officer was shot in the leg and taken to a Fort Worth hospital for treatment. Officials said the officer was in stable condition Monday night. The officer’s name had not been publicly released as of Tuesday. The person pursued by police was struck by gunfire and pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities also had not released that person’s identity or provided additional details about the circumstances behind the initial report of a firearm being displayed.
Two Johnson County sheriff’s deputies were involved in the incident, according to the sheriff’s office. Other agencies responded as the pursuit and shooting drew a large law enforcement presence to the commercial area along Interstate 35W. Burleson police and emergency medical personnel assisted at the scene, but Burleson police said their officers were not involved in the shooting. Officials said there was no known continuing threat to the community after the confrontation ended.
Witnesses described a sudden and frightening scene as police vehicles arrived around the store and gunfire was heard. Michael Garcia, who was shopping in the area, told NBC 5 that he saw an officer go down and tried to help. Garcia said he and others attempted to assist with a tourniquet before officers with medical equipment stepped in. Cellphone video from the area showed a heavy police presence after the shooting.
Dylan Trim, who was working near the front of Sam’s Club, told CBS News Texas that he saw police vehicles arrive and then heard gunfire as employees and customers began running. Trim said he saw a person enter carrying what appeared to be a long gun before more shots were heard. His description is a witness account, and authorities had not publicly released surveillance footage, police body-camera video or a detailed official reconstruction confirming the full sequence inside and outside the store.
The shooting followed a pursuit that crossed several North Texas communities. Cleburne police said officers initially responded to a report of someone brandishing a firearm while in a vehicle. Police have not publicly detailed what officers found when they first made contact, what prompted the person to flee or what occurred at each stage of the pursuit before it reached Burleson. Investigators also had not announced whether gunfire occurred at any point before the final confrontation near the Sam’s Club.
The Texas Rangers took over the investigation under procedures used for shootings involving law enforcement officers. Their review is expected to focus on the sequence of events, physical evidence and available recordings as investigators determine who fired during the confrontation and how the officer and the person being pursued were struck. Authorities had not announced any findings Tuesday, and the information released so far remained preliminary.
Cleburne Mayor Derek Weathers said Monday night that the wounded officer was stable and thanked other law enforcement agencies that responded. Walmart, which operates Sam’s Club, told CBS News Texas that the safety of associates and members was a priority and that the company would cooperate with law enforcement during the investigation.
As of Aug. 25, the officer remained publicly reported in stable condition, while the identity of the person killed and key details of the gunfire had not been released. The Texas Rangers investigation was continuing, and authorities had not announced when additional findings would be made public.
Author note: Last updated Aug. 25, 2026.