Garland Officer Shot in Dramatic Late-Night Gunbattle
In the early hours of Monday, the 24th of February, 2025, a tranquil Garland neighborhood quickly turned into a war zone.
Per multiple reports, a suspect identified as 23-year-old Bernardo Mares Jr ambushed police officers unleashing a series of attacks on them.
Reports have it that officers were responding to reports of gunfire on West Wanda Drive just minutes after midnight when the suspect rained gunshots on them upon their arrival.
Per reports, their patrol van got hit multiple times, a police officer is reported to have been shot in both legs he however was able to get to safety.
Multiple reports have that Mares after the first incident fled in a white pickup truck setting another ambulance, firing again at officers when they drove past Margarita Drive. This time, there was a massive shootout as backup arrived. Mares ran on foot to a house we believe he had family ties with.
Officers were able to evacuate all residents in the area before Mares could unleash another strike. Mares, in a bid to strike again, pointed an object at the police, officers fired and struck him down.
The hospital where he was taken pronounced him dead.
In an interview with the Garland Police Chief, Jeff Bryan, he explained that the attacks were deliberate and could have been worse. In his words:
“This could have been much worse, We could be planning five funerals today”.
We understand that the officer shot, a former New York detention officer will recover and all eight officers are currently placed on leave although investigations continue.
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