Sandy MaloneGainesville, TX – Police have apprehended the man suspected of shooting a Burleson police officer and went on to carjack, kidnap, and kill a woman as he made his getaway on Wednesday morning.
“The person we believe shot our officer and was likely involved in the death of a lady is in custody now,” Burleson Police Chief Billy Cordell told reporters at an afternoon media briefing on April 14, according to KTVT.
The incident occurred when a Burleson police officer made a traffic stop at about 4:15 a.m. on April 14 in the 1100-block of Hillside Drive, about one block from Burleson High School, KRLD reported.
The officer stopped the vehicle because a taillight was out, WFAA reported.
Chief Cordell said the officer approached the passenger side of the vehicle after he made the stop and one of the three occupants of the stopped vehicle opened fire and shot him multiple times, KRLD reported.
“He had no warning or anywhere to go. He was ambushed, no other way to say it, he was ambushed,” the police chief told reporters, according to WFAA.
He identified the wounded hero as Burleson Police Officer Joshua Lott.
NEW: Burleson Police release photo of Officer Joshua Lott who was shot multiple times this morning and hospitalized. Joined the force in May 2017. pic.twitter.com/q7blyyonGW
— Blake Hanson (@BlakeFox4News) April 14, 2021
Chief Waddell said Officer Lott was expected to survive his wounds.
“We believe he was shot three times, we believe once in the chest… he had a wound just below the shoulder. Another bullet went through his neck… it’s an amazing story. We are very thankful this officer is going to recover,” the police chief said.
Police radio traffic indicated the suspects had taken the wounded officer’s gun, KTRK reported.
Police identified the suspected gunman as 39-year-old Jerry Don Elders, WFAA reported.
Elders, and another man and woman who were in the car with him, fled the scene in their vehicle but abandoned the car when it caught fire in that 700-block of Southeast John Jones Drive.
Burleson police said the suspects fled to a home in the 8000-block of County Road 802 and carjacked a woman, WFAA reported.
Phillip Waddell told KTVT that he saw a wet, muddy woman on his property early this morning and chased her off.
He said he believed the suspects went next door to his mother’s house at that point.
The suspects kidnapped his mother – Robin Waddell – and made their second getaway of the day in her truck, KTVT reported.
Sources told KTVT that the kidnappers had shot Robin Waddell and dumped her body at the Joshua police station.
Police said Robin Waddell was transported to Huguley South Hospital where she was pronounced dead.
A “Blue Alert” to law enforcement was issued as a manhunt ensued for Elders and his partners in crime.
ACTIVE BLUE ALERT for Jerry Elders from Burleson, TX, on 04/14/2021, Texas plate DKB6819 pic.twitter.com/4hvuB4xfXe
— Texas Alerts (@TX_Alerts) April 14, 2021
He was captured in Gainesville, about 90 miles from where he shot the Burleson police officer
Authorities said Elders had an outstanding felony warrant in connection with possession of a controlled substance, WFAA reported.
Texas Rangers have taken the lead in the investigation into the officer-involved shooting.
Holly Matkin
