Texas State Trooper Shot, Blue Alert Issued For Suspect

CENTRAL TEXAS, TX — A blue alert has been issued in the search for a man wanted in connection with the shooting of a Texas state trooper Friday near Mexia.

DeArthur Pinson Jr., 37, is considered armed and dangerous, the Texas Department of Public Safety said.

"Pinson ... should not be approached," Texas DPS said. "Contact 911 immediately with any information on his whereabouts."

Pinson was last seen Friday night on Highway 84 / FM 480 in Coolidge.

He is a 6-foot- tall, 220-pound black man with black hair, some facial hair and brown eyes.

Pinson was last seen wearing glasses, a black hoodie and shorts with a stripe down the side.

The Texas Department of Public Safety issues a blue alert when someone is suspected of killing or seriously injuring a law enforcement officer.

Trooper Chad Walker was in stable but critical condition Saturday at a Waco hospital after he suffered gunshot wounds to his head and abdomen Friday night, according to Todd Snyder, regional director of the Texas Department of Public Safety Officers Association.

At 7:45 p.m. Friday, Walker came upon a broken-down car around 5 miles west of Mexia on FM road 2848 near the intersection of U.S. Highway 84 in Limestone County. The car was on the shoulder, and Walker pulled up behind it.

"Before Trooper Walker could stop his patrol unit, a black male, identified as Dearthur Pinson Jr., dob: 07/15/1984, immediately emerged from the driver’s seat of the disabled vehicle armed with a handgun and fired multiple rounds at Trooper Walker through the patrol unit’s windshield," Snyder said in a statement.

Pinson went back to his car and got a black backpack, then walked off, Snyder said.

Walker was taken to Baylor Scott & White – Hillcrest Hospital in Waco where he remained Saturday. Counselors and a DPS chaplain were with his wife and four children.

An extensive search for Pinson continued Saturday. The Texas Rangers were leading the investigation with assistance from local, state and federal partners.