A Mexican citizen has been indicted on a federal firearms charge after he allegedly shot a school police officer in Dallas. Prosecutors revealed this on Wednesday, detailing how Jose Santiago Pantoja-Morales, 27, shot the officer during an altercation that occurred on August 6. This incident took place after the officer, part of the Dallas Independent School District (DISD) police force, stopped to assist Pantoja-Morales near the Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway.
According to the federal complaint, Pantoja-Morales, who prosecutors claim was in the U.S. illegally, had jumped out of a car belonging to a co-worker and was found in the freeway’s center median. The co-worker flagged down the officer on routine patrol, who then offered Pantoja-Morales a ride to a safer location.
During the ride, things took a turn. It seems that Pantoja-Morales began rummaging through the officer’s belongings in the back seat. When the officer pulled over, attempting to remove him from the vehicle, Pantoja-Morales resisted, prompting a physical struggle. At this point, he allegedly seized the officer’s gun and fired a shot, hitting the officer in the right leg’s femoral artery.
Even with the injury, the officer managed to regain control of his weapon. Pantoja-Morales fled the scene but was apprehended by law enforcement shortly thereafter. Another DISD officer provided medical assistance at the scene before the injured officer was transported to Parkland Hospital for further care.
On September 16, a federal grand jury indicted Pantoja-Morales on charges of possession of a firearm by an illegal alien, as stated by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas. U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould commented on the seriousness of the situation, labeling Pantoja-Morales’ actions as a direct threat to public safety. He emphasized that violence against law enforcement will not be tolerated and vowed to pursue the case rigorously.
Pantoja-Morales is currently awaiting a transfer to federal custody. If convicted, he could face up to 15 years in prison. The ATF’s Dallas Field Office and the Dallas Police Department have been involved in the investigation, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Nadin-Sarah Salkic handling the prosecution.
