Published: November 07, 2009 04:55 pm      

Cherokee County officers assist with Tyler takedown

Progress staff reports



Two Cherokee County law enforcement officers helped apprehend a suspect in a shooting at about 2 a.m. Friday morning near the Whataburger off Gentry Parkway in Tyler Friday morning.

Cherokee County Precinct 4 Constable Jamie Beene and Deputy Sheriff Allen Langston of the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Department were working a security detail at the time of the shooting, according to a police report from the Tyler Police Department.

Witnesses at the scene described a large crowd milling about in the parking lot of a small strip mall across the street from Whataburger. Two men, whose bonds had not been released as of Friday afternoon, allegedly exchanged gunfire. Several rounds were fired, and one traveled across Gentry Parkway, hitting an occupied vehicle at the restaurant.

“Upon hearing the gunshots across the street, Constable Beene ran to the scene of where the shots were fired,” the press release stated.

One man fled on foot with Beene in pursuit. Police officials said he refused verbal commands to stop for police during this chase and even pointed his handgun at Beene. The constable fired his weapon during the foot pursuit, and Tyler police assisted Beene with apprehending the suspect as he attempted to climb a fence.

The subject was shot in the shoulder and abdomen, though it was not clear who was responsible for the injuries. Officers found a handgun in the back yard of the house where the man was arrested. He was taken to East Texas Medical Center-Tyler for treatment and released to Tyler police, at which point he was booked into the Smith County Jail for aggravated assault on a public officer.

A second suspect in the shooting arrived at Trinity Mother Frances-Tyler with a gunshot wound to the right leg. He was treated, released and arrested on two outstanding Tyler traffic warrants. He has not been charged with any crime related to the shooting as of press time.