Two officers who were shot while responding to a suicide call at a home in North Texas Friday evening are expected to recover, the Fort Worth Police Department says.[[393792971,R]]
Police spokesman Officer Marc Povero said at about 8:30 p.m. officers Xavier Serrano and Ray Azucena responded to a home on the 3800 block of Wharton Drive and found a person in a back bedroom unresponsive from a gunshot wound.
The Tarrant County Medical Examiner's Office identified that man as Carl Fleece. The ME's office listed his manner of death as homicide, and said he had "gunshot wounds" to the head.
Neighbors told the officers that a witness to the shooting was in a shed in the backyard.
When the officers approached the shed, someone inside began shooting at them, and they opened fire, Povero said.
Serrano was shot several times in his upper body and was transported to a hospital in critical condition. Azucena was struck once in the chest, but the bullet hit his protective vest and he only sustained minor injuries, Povero said.
SWAT officers later surrounded the shed and fired tear gas canisters inside. Just before midnight, Fort Worth police confirmed that a person was found dead inside the shed.
The Tarrant County Medical Examiner's Office identified that man as Fleece's son Martin Fleece. Fleece was shot in the head, according to the ME's office and the manner of death was ruled to be suicide.
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Serrano is an eight-year veteran and Field Training Officer with FWPD. Azucena is a rookie officer who graduated from the Fort Worth Police Academy in July.
Serrano underwent surgery at John Peter Smith Hospital Saturday and remained there Monday morning. Azucena was released from the hospital overnight.
Fort Worth Police Chief Joel Fitzgerald and Mayor Betsy Price spoke to reporters at JPS Hospital and asked for prayers for the injured officers.
