Two officers from the police department in Reno, Texas, were shot and injured when they were responding to a call of someone making threats, according to multiple news reports.
Fox 4 KDFW reported that the Reno police officers were responding to a call of a woman who reported that her son, who possessed a firearm, was threatening to kill people in the residence on Thursday, July 9. Officers were dispatched to the residence in question, located in Parker County, but upon arriving, officers were met with gunfire.
According to Fox 4 KDFW, during the standoff, one Reno officer was hit in the arm by one of the suspect’s bullets, another Reno officer was hit, but the bullet struck the equipment belt he was wearing.
A third law enforcement officer, a deputy from Parker County Sheriff’s Office, was shot at several times during the incident and was airlifted to a hospital located in Forth Worth to undergo surgery, according to the news outlet.
For the entire duration of the standoff, the suspect, who was later identified as Lian Christian, remained barricaded inside the residence, according to the news outlet. It was only after a fire started in the house (as flames could be seen at around 12:45 a.m.) that the standoff ended, and the officers were able to make their way into the house.
Fox 4 KDFW reported that once the police made their way into the house, they found two individuals who were deceased. One of which was the shooting suspect, Lian Christian, and the other one was the suspect’s 17-year-old sister, Cierra Christian.
The fire was put out at around 1:30 a.m. in the morning, according to Forth Worth Star-Telegram.
The mother of the suspect was able to escape unhurt, according to Fox 4 KDFW.
As of current, the case is turned over to the Texas Rangers as they conduct further investigations on the incident, according to post written on Friday on the City of Reno’s Facebook page. Furthermore, the post indicated that the situation no longer posed any threat to the public.
“Although we experienced a tragedy you can be proud of all our first responders who handled the situation with the upmost of professionalism loyalty and dedication to protecting our community,” according to the post.
This post also updated the public about the condition of the deputy who was shot during the incident, reading, “the Reno officers and Sheriff’s Deputy are doing well and recovering,” and thanked the community supplying the law enforcement officers who were there during the standoff with food and water.
“I am extremely proud of our officers and our citizens and our community,” the post read.
The post also gave credit to those who helped out during the incident, reading, “Thank you again to the Briar-Reno Fire Department, Briar-Reno Fire Marshal’s Office, Springtown Police Department, Parker County Sheriff’s Department, and numerous other agencies who responded and assisted our town in a time of need.”
