South Texas sheriff's deputy stable after shooting in Dimmit County

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Wednesday, March 31, 2021
South Texas deputy stable after Dimmit County shooting
The shooter was taken into custody after taking off and crashing. The deputy involved is expected to fully recover.

BIG WELLS, Texas (KTRK) -- A south Texas sheriff's deputy is stable after a shooting Tuesday night in Dimmit County.

The deputy was involved in some kind of interaction with a suspect, identified as Rocky Carrizales, that escalated into gunfire, according to investigators. Carrizales was wanted on a federal warrant, Dimmit County Sheriff Marion Boyd told KENS-TV.

Carrizales shot the deputy during the confrontation, tried to flee in a car, but lost control and crashed, authorities said. Moments after the crash, Boyd and another deputy arrived and exchanged gunfire, hitting Carrizales.

He was arrested and transported to a hospital, but there was no word on his condition.

The deputy involved, identified as Joshua Garcia, was stable Wednesday morning at a hospital.

"He is expected to make a full recovery," the Dimmit County Sheriff's Office said in a Facebook post. "Thank you all for the prayers and support."

Garcia is an eight-year veteran of the Dimmit County Sheriff's Office, KENS-TV reported.

Big Wells, a town of around 700, is approximately 100 miles south of San Antonio and 315 miles southwest of Houston.

Tuesday's shooting was at least the second incident statewide in a week involving an injured law enforcement officer. Last Friday, a Texas DPS trooper was critically injured in a shooting in central Texas. Trooper Chad Walker remained on life support Wednesday, but was not expected to survive.

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