This story was updated with new information following the May 4, 2026 FWPD press conference with Police Chief Eddie Garcia.
The man suspected of shooting and hospitalizing a member of the Fort Worth Police Department Civilian Response Unit was arrested Tuesday after being on the run for hours, police said.
The injured employee, Edward Zapata, was released from JPS Hospital Friday after being struck in the left eye with shrapnel, according to Fort Worth Police.
"He was talking, he was moving, and by the grace of God, hopefully, with prayers, he'll be OK," Fort Worth Police Chief Eddie Garcia told reporters at a press conference after the shooting.
Zapata served in the Marine Corps for 30 years prior to joining FWPD in February 2026. Garica confirmed Zapata had only served two weeks as a CRU service member prior to the incident.
Zapata was responding to an overnight car burglary in north Fort Worth, which was not deemed an active crime scene when he was dispatched.
CRU members are not armed and don't respond to calls where a suspect is on the scene or likely to return, according to the Fort Worth Police Department's website. The unit was formed in 2021, "with the realization that every call for service does not require a police officer to respond." Members investigate burglary, assault by threat, criminal mischief and other low-level calls.
Police said the CRU member responded to a burglary call near the 3500 block of North Juliet Lane about 11:40 a.m. Tuesday.
While responding, a man identified as 39-year-old Angel Cantu began firing at him from across the street, police said.
Garcia confirmed Monday Cantu did have an outstanding warrant for a parole violation relating to previous weapons.
The CRU member then called for assistance from Fort Worth police, who were also fired upon when they arrived at the scene, police said.
Chief Garcia said Cantu lived across from the home and said investigators could not determine a motive for the attack.
Officers set up a perimeter around the house but did not locate him. Several local schools were placed on lockdown and the department notified people in the neighborhood to stay indoors.
Cantu was arrested hours later at 5:40 p.m. as he was leaving a wooded area near Riverside Drive and Brittany Place, police said.
During Cantu’s arrest, officers found two knives and a pellet rifle along with rifle pellets they believe he used in the shooting.
Both the Major Case Unit and internal affairs will continue to investigate the shooting.
Garcia said that there is no consideration at the moment to issue CRU service members weapons but that his office and the CRU department have been in communication to avoid incidents like this.
Cantu remains in custody at the Tarrant County Jail on a $300,000 bond. He is currently facing three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon against a public servant and a parole violation linked to his previous weapons charge.
The suspect is now in custody related to the shooting that occurred earlier today. Thank you to everyone for your support and patience.  pic.twitter.com/Ds8WweW1RR
— Fort Worth Police (@fortworthpd) April 28, 2026
Emmanuel Rivas Valenzuela is KERA's breaking news reporter. Got a tip? Email Emmanuel at erivas@kera.org.
Dylan Duke is KERA's Breaking News Reporter. Got a tip? Email Dylan Duke at dduke@kera.org.
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