North Texas Officers Show Support at Hospital for Grand Prairie Police Officer
By Noelle Walker ••
About 150 officers and emergency personnel from departments across North Texas came to Medical City Arlington to grieve and show support for Grand Prairie Police Officer A.J. Castaneda.
Patrol cars from Grand Prairie, Euless, Hurst, Arlington, Tarrant County, and more filled the hospital parking lot, as well as fire trucks and ambulances.
Grand Prairie veteran police officer A.J. Castaneda was killed Friday, June 7, 2019 when he was struck by an out-of-control motorist and thrown from a highway overpass. A procession escorted his body from Medical city Arlington to the Tarrant County Medical Examiner's Office.
"I support my community, my Grand Prairie Police officers," said Jonathan Mendez, a Grand Prairie resident who heard the news and came to the hospital to show support for police. "Beause I have a burden in my heart that I care about our officers."
About 150 officers and emergency personnel lined up to honor Castaneda at the hospital.
Then, at about 3:30 p.m., officers led a slow procession from the hospital to bring Officer Castaneda's body to the Tarrant County Medical Examiner's office.
NBC 5 News/Grand Prairie Police Department
Grand Prairie Police Officer A.J. Castaneda was killed Friday, June 7, 2019, in a crash along Texas 161.
Scott Gordon, NBC 5 News
A Texas State Trooper investigates a crash involving a Grand Prairie police officer, Friday, June 7, 2019.
Reyna Cavazos, Telemundo 39
Texas State Troopers investigate a crash involving a Grand Prairie police officer, Friday, June 7, 2019.
NBC 5 News
Flags are lowered to half-staff after Grand Prairie Police Officer A.J. Castaneda was killed in a crash Friday, June 7, 2019.
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Grand Prairie Chief of Police Steve Dye prepares to hold a news conference announcing the death of police officer, A.J. Castaneda, Friday, June 7, 2019.
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Grand Prairie Chief of Police Steve Dye talks about his friend and fellow officer, A.J. Castaneda, Friday, June 7, 2019.
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Arlington police line outside Medical City Arlington where a Grand Prairie police officer was taken following a crash, June 7, 2019.
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A casket, draped in an American flag, carries the body of Grand Prairie police officer A.J. Castaneda who was struck and killed by an out-of-control driver on Friday, June 7, 2019.
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The procession carrying Grand Prairie Police Officer A.J. Castaneda from Medical City Arlington to the Tarrant County Medical Examiner's Office, Friday, June 7, 2019.
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Firefighters pay respects as the procession for Grand Prairie Police Officer A.J. Castaneda passes by, Friday, June 7, 2019.
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Firefighters pay respects as the procession for Grand Prairie Police Officer A.J. Castaneda passes by, Friday, June 7, 2019.
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Officers await the arrival of the body of Grand Prairie Police Officer A.J. Castaneda outside the Tarrant County Medical Examiner's Office, Friday, June 7, 2019.
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The body of Grand Prairie Police Officer A.J. Castaneda arrives at the Tarrant County Medical Examiner's Office, Friday, June 7, 2019.
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Officers salute as the body of Grand Prairie Police Officer A.J. Castaneda arrives at the Tarrant County Medical Examiner's Office, Friday, June 7, 2019.
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Onlookers salute as the body of Grand Prairie Police Officer A.J. Castaneda arrives at the Tarrant County Medical Examiner's Office, Friday, June 7, 2019.
NBC 5 News
Officers salute as the body of Grand Prairie Police Officer A.J. Castaneda arrives at the Tarrant County Medical Examiner's Office, Friday, June 7, 2019.
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