Civilian Fort Worth police employee hospitalized, shooter still at large

Fort Worth police and SWAT are searching for a man they say shot and hospitalized a member of the department's Civilian Response Unit Tuesday.

The unidentified civilian employee is in stable condition, Fort Worth Police Chief Eddie Garcia told reporters.

"He was talking, he was moving, and by the grace of God, hopefully, with prayers, he'll be OK," he said.

Members of the CRU responded to a burglary call near the 3500 block of North Juliet Lane Tuesday at 11:45 a.m. Tuesday, Garcia said. When they arrived, a man across the street began firing at the employees with what appeared to be a rifle, and a CRU member was hit.

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.

It's unclear why the civilian employee was responding to the call Tuesday. Garcia did not take questions from reporters.

The suspect, who is possibly armed, was last seen running westbound. The investigation is ongoing.

Schools in the area are on lockdown and will remain on lockdown until police deem it safe, Garcia said.

This is a developing story and will be updated.