A Mexican national is facing a federal firearms charge after allegedly seizing a Dallas school police officer's weapon and shooting him. Prosecutors announced the indictment on Wednesday, detailing an incident that occurred after the officer had offered assistance.
Jose Santiago Pantoja-Morales, 27, is accused of firing a shot at the uniformed Dallas Independent School District (DISD) police officer during a struggle on August 6. The encounter began when the officer, who was on routine patrol, came across Pantoja-Morales near the Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway.
According to federal prosecutors, Pantoja-Morales, who is reportedly in the United States without legal authorization, had exited a co-worker’s vehicle and entered the freeway’s center median. The co-worker then flagged down the DISD officer, who subsequently offered Pantoja-Morales a ride to a safer location nearby.
Details of the Alleged Incident
During the journey, prosecutors allege that Pantoja-Morales began rummaging through the officer's bag, which was located in the back seat. This prompted the officer to pull the vehicle over and attempt to remove him.
Pantoja-Morales allegedly resisted the officer's attempts, leading to a physical altercation. In the course of this struggle, Pantoja-Morales is accused of grabbing the officer's service weapon and discharging it once. The bullet struck the officer in the femoral artery of his right leg, as detailed in the federal complaint.
Despite sustaining a serious injury, the officer managed to regain control of his firearm. Pantoja-Morales then fled the scene but was quickly apprehended by law enforcement personnel. Another DISD officer present at the location provided immediate medical attention to the wounded officer, who was then transported to Parkland Hospital for further specialized treatment.
Federal Charges and Official Response
A federal grand jury formally returned an indictment against Pantoja-Morales on September 16. The charge specifies possession of a firearm by an undocumented alien, according to an announcement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas.
"The illegal alien’s alleged actions in this case represent an attack on the rule of law and a direct threat to public safety," U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould stated in a news release. "Every day, we ask the men and women who wear the badge to stand between good and evil. It is my duty — and the duty of this office — to do all we can to protect those who protect us. Violence against an officer will not be tolerated, and we will pursue this prosecution with the utmost rigor to ensure full accountability."
Pantoja-Morales is currently awaiting transfer to federal custody under a writ of habeas corpus, which was filed on Wednesday. If convicted of the charge, he faces a potential sentence of up to 15 years in federal prison.
The investigation into this case was conducted by the ATF Dallas Field Office and the Dallas Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nadin-Sarah Salkic is handling the prosecution.
