DALLAS, TEXAS — A routine traffic stop in Dallas early Sunday morning escalated into an officer-involved shooting after a passenger allegedly assaulted a police officer, according to the Dallas Police Department. Authorities say the driver fled the scene and remains at large.
The incident occurred around 2:16 a.m. Sunday near Mockingbird Lane and Preston Road, close to the Dallas Country Club, police said. Officers initially stopped a vehicle for allegedly driving without headlights.
According to officials, the situation escalated when a passenger inside the vehicle exited and approached the officer during the stop. Police said the passenger closed the distance to the officer and punched him, leading the officer to discharge his weapon twice.
The suspect was struck at least once, authorities said. Both the officer and the passenger were transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. The condition of the passenger has not yet been released.
Dallas Police confirmed that the passenger and officer involved in the incident are both adult males, but their identities have not been publicly disclosed.
Following the shooting, the driver of the vehicle allegedly sped away from the scene and has not been located. Authorities say efforts are ongoing to identify and apprehend the driver.
A department spokesperson said the initial traffic stop was made because the vehicle was reportedly being driven without headlights. Officials added that the passenger unexpectedly exited the vehicle and initiated the confrontation, which led to the officer’s response.
Police released a brief alert on social media shortly after the incident, noting an active investigation near the area. The department later provided additional details during a morning briefing.
The Dallas Police Department’s Internal Affairs and Special Investigations units are reviewing the officer-involved shooting as part of standard procedure.
The investigation remains ongoing.