Man who shot Texas State Trooper dies by suicide, authorities say

MEXIA, Texas – The man who fled after shooting a Texas State Trooper has died according to an update shared on the Mclennan County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page.

According to the post, Limestone County Judge Richard Duncan said DeArthur Pinson, 36, died by suicide. The Texas Department of Public Safety later released a statement confirming the death saying Pinson was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in a residence west of Mexia.

A Texas state trooper was hospitalized Saturday in critical but stable condition after he was shot by Pinson near the city of Mexia, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Trooper Chad Walker was shot about 7:45 p.m. Friday while stopping to assist a motorist in an apparently disabled vehicle west of Mexia, about 75 miles (121 kilometers) southeast of Dallas, according to the statement from DPS regional director Todd Snyder.

Walker had not come to a stop behind the vehicle on the shoulder of the roadway when Pinson got out of the disabled vehicle and opened fire, Snyder said. Pinson fled the scene on foot.

Walker was struck in the head and abdomen and was later flown to a hospital in Waco, about 40 miles away.

Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez shared a post to Twitter asking the community to keep Walker in their prayers.

“Please join me in lifting him up in prayer, along with all our men and women in blue,” Gonalez said in part.