Plano police said they shot a masked gunman on Sunday afternoon after he opened fire in the Plano Police Headquarters. Investigators are exploring the possibility that the suspect is connected to the murder in Garland where a Lyft driver was shot and killed.
The shooting happened at about 12:15 p.m. on Sunday at the lobby of the headquarters after the suspect fired a handgun aimed at a civilian employee and another person, 900 block of 14th street.
The man who was wearing a black shirt and black mask was said to be “behaving erratically” in front of the police headquarters. He went inside the lobby, left, and when he returned a few minutes later, he already had a gun in his right hand, Dallas News reported.
“When he came back in the second time, there was a civilian employee that was assisting a citizen in the lobby of the police department,” said Plano police spokesman Jerry Minton. “They obviously froze trying to deescalate the situation.”
On the surveillance cameras, it appeared that there was a verbal exchange between the suspect, the civilian employee, and the other person before the gunman raised the weapon and fired at the civilian employee.
Both the employee and the other person escaped and hid in a secured interview room, both unharmed.
A detective and a police sergeant responded to the shooting, and both parties exchanged gunfire, eventually shooting the gunman at least once. Plano Fire-Rescue took the man to a nearby hospital. His name and his condition were not released.
The shooting that happened at the headquarters followed shortly after Garland Police responded to a fatal shooting, 7.5 miles away, in the 400 block Forest Gate Drive where a female Lyft driver was shot and killed just before noon. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene and investigators are still trying to find out if the victim was picking up a customer or dropping off.
The person who reported the fatal shooting of the Lyft driver said that her car was stolen and while police were investigating the shooting, the stolen Lyft car was found at the Plano Police Department.
“Things kind of appear what they are, but we still need to link them with evidence to be able to make that solid connection,” Garland police spokesman Matt Pesta said, adding: “It’s just a sad deal all the way around. I mean, let’s face it, a life was lost today. And there could have been many more, if it wasn’t for the heroic actions of Plano Police Department.”
According to Minton, the only link they have for the Garland Police Department is the recovered stolen car. “As far as I know, we don’t know if he got out of the car…..We’re going to review any outside video or anything to see if he actually did get out [of the car].”
The Plano Police Department said Sunday night that the lobby area is closed indefinitely due to the shooting that happened. If anyone has information about the incident may call Garland Police at 972-485-4840.