A Texas police officer was slain in the line of duty after being shot during a traffic stop, according to the department.
Officer Jacob Candanoza, 28, passed away on Monday due to injuries he sustained during a traffic stop on South State Highway 34 at 11 p.m. on Sunday, according to a news release on the Terrell Police Department’s Facebook page.
During the stop, Candanoza requested additional units for assistance. However, within moments of this dispatch, the department received two 911 calls reporting an officer’s shooting, officials said. According to the announcement, a citizen’s radio transmission provided police with the same information.
Officers arrived at the scene and confirmed Candanoza’s shooting, according to authorities. The agency said that after receiving rapid medical assistance, they sent Candanoza to a local hospital, where his injuries ultimately led to his death.
Candanoza had only been an officer with the Terrell Police Department since July 2024, according to the statement.
“Our deepest condolences go out to his family as they navigate this tragic time,” police said.
According to the Officer Down Memorial Page, Candanoza’s wife and child survive him.
Suspect in custody for allegedly killing Jacob Candanoza
Terrell police shared on Facebook Monday at 5:30 a.m. that a “suspect has been apprehended and is currently being held at the Kaufman County Detention Center.”
Police say the inquiry is still ongoing. They did not release the suspect’s name, and it was unclear whether they had charged the individual.
CBS News reports that the suspect in custody is a 25-year-old guy from Mississippi. The outlet reports that they arrested him at the Mill Creek Ranch Resort, an RV park in Canton, Texas, approximately 30 miles east of Terrell.