Texas Officer Shot, Killed In Line Of Duty

MISSION, TX — A Texas police officer was shot and killed in the line of duty Thursday night and the suspect in the cop's killing is also deceased, according to police and news reports.

Authorities in Mission, Texas identified the slain officer as Corporal Joey "Speedy" Espericueta, who was shot when he was waved down for a suspect with a gun, officials said.

A spokesman for Mission Police told The Monitor that that the supect in the shooting was killedand the Texas Department of Public Safety will be investigating the officer-involved shooting.

"We’re devastated," the city of Mission said in a statement posted to Twitter.

"He gave his life protecting us," the statement read in part. "There are no words to explain how heartbroken we are as a community."

Dr. Armando O'Caña, the mayor of Mission, said the city would be fully standing by with the officer's family.

Mission is a town on the U.S.-Mexico border located about 240 miles south of San Antonio.

This report will be updated as more information is learned.