Posted on 05/28/2011 10:22:32 PM PDT by Stonewall Jackson
ODESSA -- The trooper involved in Wednesday afternoon's shooting has been released from the hospital, while the three suspects remain in Ector County jail on new charges.
Marcus Christopher Lott, 23, and Ashley Simpson, 20, are being held on charges of attempted capital murder of a peace officer and possession of marijuana. Alfonso Butler, 35, is being held on a parole warrant and for possession of marijuana.
Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Max Honesto pulled over a blue four-door Toyota sedan at mile marker 95 on Interstate 20 about 1:30 p.m. Wednesday.
When Honesto pulled over the vehicle, he had Butler -- the driver -- step out and stand by his patrol car while he interviewed Lott and Simpson. During the interview, Honesto said he smelled marijuana and began to inquire about it when Lott pulled out a .22 caliber pistol and fired it at Honesto. Shots were exchanged between the pair, said DPS Trooper John Barton.
Honesto was struck in the right arm as he took cover. Lott and Simpson drove off and led police on a high-speed chase after striking the DPS vehicle, Barton said.
Butler surrendered at the scene.
Trooper Mario Garcia fired on the fleeing vehicle and a pursuit ensued. DPS units tried to stop the Toyota by using spikes and by firing at the vehicle, but they were unable to stop the vehicle until it crashed into a pipe fence on the service road of I-20 at the 115 mile marker, Barton said.
Lott and Simpson were arrested and taken to Medical Center Hospital where Lott was treated for a gunshot wound. All three defendants were transported to the Ector County jail and remained there as of Thursday night.
During a search of the Toyota, two bags of marijuana, a pound of marijuana and two firearms were found, Barton said.
Lott also was wanted for an outstanding felony warrant from another state, DPS said.
The investigation by the Texas Rangers Company E is ongoing. They are receiving assistance from the DPS Criminal Investigations agents, the DPS Crash Reconstruction Team, DPS Aircraft and the Ector County Sheriff's Office.
Marcus used to work with me here in Elizabethtown, KY a few years ago. He then fell in with the wrong crowd, got hooked on drugs, and was convicted of several felony drug charges.
Shortly after his release, a warrant was taken out after he threatened a neighbor with a handgun (a big no-no for a convicted felon) and he and his girlfriend went on the run.
During the shooting, Officer Honesto fired a single round that passed through Lott's left knee and lodged in his right knee. (ouch!!!)
On a more serious note; initial reports stated that the officer was struck in the right shoulder, but this was later corrected in that the bullet struck him in the upper right arm, passed through, struck him again under the armpit, and lodged near his shoulder blade. Fortunately his injuries were relatively minor and he is expected to make a full recovery.
Contrary to popular belief...
.22 rounds can cause a lot of damage.
22 long rifle hollow points. The number 1 poachers round in the crowded northeast.
22 long rifle hollow points. The number 1 deer poachers round in the crowded northeast.
Back in high school, a friend of mine accidentally shot himself in the foot with one while climbing over a fence. The round struck bone and fragmented, causing severe damage that almost led to his foot being amputated. Keving still walks with a limp, almost twenty years later.
I don’t hunt squirrels with non-HP .22 ammo.
I’m getting too old to run after them.
;-)
When I was a reserve deputy while still active duty in Michigan UP I took a hit from a .22 to a then new second chance vest. Let me tell ya it hurt like hell. Can’t even think of what a larger caliber would have felt like.
Lott had to be hurting....alot. Dps here is packing 357SIG.....ouch.
Stay Safe....
Wow. How many shots and how close?
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