Dallas police officer dies after shooting at Home Depot

Dallas Police Officer Rogelio Santander, 27, died today (Wednesday, April 25) at Presbyterian Hospital of injuries sustained when he was shot during a robbery at Home Depot on Forest Lane. Doctors operated on Santander late Tuesday night but were unable to save his life.
Officer Crystal Almeida, 26, and Scott Painter, a Home Depot loss-prevention officer were also shot in incident. Both remain in critical condition following surgery, also at Presbyterian.
Shooting suspect Armando Luis Juarez was captured and arrested last night after a five-hour manhunt. The final chase to capture him began in southeast Dallas and at about 9 p.m. led through Oak Lawn. Dozens of police cars and motorcycle officers raced to converge on a neighborhood close to Love Field where Juarez was caught at 9:15 p.m.
Juarez is being held on more than $1 million bail and is charged with at least two counts of aggravated assault on a public servant and two previous felony theft warrants, according to DPD. Additional charges for death of Officer Santander and for aggravated assault on Painter have not been added yet.
Both police officers are three-year DPD veterans who worked in the Northeast Division.
Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson issued the following statement on learning of Office Santander’s death:  “It is with a heavy heart that I send my condolences to the family of Officer Rogelio Santander and the Dallas Police Department. Officer Santander made the ultimate sacrifice protecting the people of Dallas from a senseless act of violence. We are indebted to Officer Santander for his service. My thoughts and prayers are with the families of Officer Crystal Almeida and Scott Painter, the two others wounded during yesterday’s unwarranted shooting. I ask everyone to join me in offering prayers and well-wishes to Officer Almeida, who is still fighting for her life, and Mr. Painter in hopes they experience a full recovery.”

— David Taffet