Intense body camera footage released from the Lufkin Police Department; shows the moments a hostage-taker was neutralized after officers fired multiple shots through the rear-end of a hijacked vehicle.

On December 13th, 2021, officers from the Lufkin Police Department responded to a 9-1-1 dispatch call, regarding a hostage situation. Official police reports stated, a suspect entered the passenger seat of an unsuspecting citizens vehicle, pointed a firearm and them and commanded they drive them from Cherokee County into Angelina County.

Lufkin officers eventually made contact with the vehicle on Highway 69 North, where the vehicle suddenly stopped. This allowed officers to setup a perimeter around the involved vehicle. While approaching the vehicle, officers observed the suspect located in the passenger seat pointing a handgun at the victim driver. As indicated in the body camera footage, officers commanded the suspect numerous times to stop reaching and to put the gun down; however he refused to comply.

To ensure the safety of the victim driver, officers redirected their line of fire to avoid striking the hostage and began firing multiple shots into the vehicle. Officers successfully neutralized the suspect, after striking him in the neck. The driver being held hostage and all officers involved were reported uninjured.

The unnamed suspect was transported to an area hospital where he received treatment for multiple gunshot wounds. Cherokee County officials later released the man is facing multiple felony charges upon his release from the hospital.