EULESS — A Euless officer and a suspect have been pronounced dead after the pair exchanged gunfire at J.A. Carr Park Tuesday afternoon.
The slain officer was identified as 29-year-old David Hofer Tuesday night.
“This agency and this community will not forget David's servant heart and his dry wit,” said Euless Police Chief Mike Brown in a press conference Tuesday night. “We ask for respect in consideration for the families and the Euless Police Department family at this time.”
Few details of the events that led to Hofer's death. Chief Brown said much more information will be released on Wednesday.
According to Chief Brown, police were called to the park after they received reports of a suspicious person and shots fired at about 2 p.m.
"Upon arrival, officers encountered a suspect with an unknown weapon," Brown said. "The suspect immediately fired upon officers, striking one of them. Officers returned fire, striking the suspect."
A witness provided News 8 with cell phone video taken from his porch. The video captures the chaos of the moment, from the moment back-up officers arrive on scene and take cover behind cars, to when a swarm of officers move in on the suspect.
Nelson Leka was another witness who was picking up his daughter from school at the time.
"About three police [officers were] running around the corner holding guns, and I noticed they were chasing something, someone," Leka said.
The video would show officers get closer by rushing over to a home nearby the park. Seconds later, a swarm of officers would quickly move in on the suspect, ordering him to "get on the ground." A moment later, gunshots ring out, though the shooting was not caught on the video.
News 8 has decided not to air the moment of the shooting out of respect for the officer's family and the police department.
Another image though caught on video is also difficult to watch: Officers huddling up and comforting each other through an incredibly difficult time.
Hofer was transported to Baylor Scott & White Medical Center in Grapevine, where he was pronounced dead during surgery.
The suspect was taken to John Peter Smith Hospital, where he, too, was pronounced dead.
Authorities haven't disclosed the identity of the suspect.
Nearby Oakwood Terrace Elementary School was placed under lockdown mode after the shots were heard.
Hofer, 29, was engaged to be married. He grew up in Brooklyn, New York, got his bachelor's degree from NYU, and joined the Euless Police Department in January 2014 after five years with the NYPD.
According to the city's website, the death of the officer in the line of duty is the second in the history of the department. In 1982, Michael Ray Williamson was killed by a drunk driver while he was on patrol. He was 30 at the time and a father of six. One of his sons is now a Euless firefighter, the Star-Telegram reports.
A steady stream of citizens brought flowers and candles to the department on Tuesday night. They circled in prayer. Many left in tears.
Many law enforcement agencies and civilians are tweeting their condolences with the hashtag #Officerdown.
“Euless is one big family,” Mayor Linda Martin told the Star-Telegram. “Honestly, I’m having trouble controlling my tears."
WFAA's Cynthia Izaguirre, Jim Douglas, and Jobin Panicker contributed to this report.