Sandy MaloneHaltom City, TX – Authorities have released bodycam video of the “ambush” shooting of three Haltom City police officers on Saturday by a gunman who had already shot three people (video below).
Police said the incident occurred at about 6:45 p.m. on July 2 in the 570-block of Diamond Oaks Drive, WFAA reported.
Officials said an elderly neighbor had called 911 but then was shot before police arrived.
Surveillance video from neighbors’ security cameras showed responding officers arrived on the scene and walked down the street toward the house.
When three officers stepped foot on the edge of the driveway, the suspect inside the home opened fire on them.
The video showed all three officers were shot.
Officers returned fire and two of the wounded officers immediately fell to the ground, the video showed.
The third officer appeared to try to take cover behind a vehicle in the driveway before he was gunned down.
“This was an ambush situation,” Haltom City Police Chief Cody Phillips told reporters at a news briefing when he released the surveillance videos.
Security videos showed other officers arrived on the scene quickly and were carrying long guns.
Police said the gunman had a military-style rifle and a handgun and had fired “hundreds of rounds” at homes on his street and at responding officers, WFAA reported.
The suspect – later identified as 28-year-old Edward Freyman – fled the area and found dead about a mile away from what police suspect was a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Officers entered the home Freyman had been shooting from and found a man and a woman dead inside, WFAA reported.
Police said the victims – 32-year-old Amber Tsai and 33-year-old Collin Davis – knew their killer but the nature of the relationship was unclear.
Haltom City Police Corporal Zach Tabler and Haltom City Police Officers Tim Barton and Jose Avila were shot during the gunfight, WFAA reported.
The wounded heroes were transported to the hospital for treatment of wounds that were believed not to be life-threatening.
Police said one of the officers was shot in the arm, finger, and leg and another officer was shot in both of his legs, WFAA reported.
The third wounded hero was shot in the thigh, according to police.
The Texas Rangers are heading up the investigation into the officer-involved shooting, WFAA reported.
Neighbors described the scene on their street as terrifying.
“We both saw the muzzle fire just coming out,” Angel Trevino told WFAA. “Evil is evil and good is good right? What happened last night was evil.”
His wife said the family took cover and waited for the shooting to stop.
“Still shaking though; still concerned about it,” Cristina Trevino told WFAA. “That moment, it was scary. It was scary.”
Police have not yet released a motive for the shooting.
Watch the incident unfold in the video below. WARNING – Graphic Content:
Holly Matkin
