Hero down: United States veteran, police officer, young dad killed in shootout with armed suspect

GREENVILLE, TX - During the evening hours on Monday, November 25th, a police officer with the Greenville Police Department (GPD) was killed in a shootout with an armed suspect.

According to ABC News, 27-year-old Officer Cooper Dawson died at approximately 4:30 a.m. in a hospital following the deadly encounter in Greenville, which is about 45 miles north of Dallas. GPD Chief Chris Smith said in a statement, "We're hurting. We're hurting as a department. We are hurting as a community. Officer Dawson dedicated his life to serving others. He made the ultimate sacrifice while protecting his community. Today we honor him as a hero, a husband, a father, and a friend. The grief we feel is indescribable."

Smith said that the shooting happened after officers attempted to stop a driver who had multiple felony warrants out. At a news conference following the incident, Smith said, "The suspect then fled on foot. Officer Dawson and his partner pursued the suspect, at which point the suspect opened fire, striking Officer Dawson." Despite being wounded, Dawson was able to return fire, hitting the suspect. The suspect was taken to a nearby hospital where he remains in critical condition.

Smith said that Dawson was an "excellent officer" who was "passionate about training." He said that after he was shot, Dawson was able to apply his own tourniquet. Dawson worked for the police department in the Dallas suburb of Garland for seven years before joining GPD about a year and a half ago. Dawson also served in the Army National Guard. He is survived by his spouse and three children.

According to the Dallas Morning News, Officer Dawson was the first officer to die in the line of duty for GPD in more than 100 years. Smith said that there has been an outpouring of support from across the community and the state. Smith said that Dawson was also part of GPD's tactical unit and severed as an instructor for fellow officers. He said, "We lost a good man today. He was an excellent officer."

In a news release, the Garland Police Department said, "Cooper was more than just a Greenville Police Officer; he was a friend to many here at the Garland Police Department, a devoted husband, father, and a loving family man. He wore the Garland PD badge with pride for seven years, dedicating himself to the safety and well-being of our community and Greenville PD."

During the incident, Smith said that Dawson conducted a traffic stop after "observing a violent offender with multiple felony warrants getting into a vehicle." The suspect has been identified as 25-year-old Christian Robert Sparger. The Texas Department of Public Safety's Texas Rangers will be conducting the investigation.