Officer Shot And Killed While Performing Traffic Stop

A Panola County Sheriff’s Deputy has died after being shot multiple times during a traffic stop on Tuesday, December 31st.

The Houston Chronicle reports that 28-year-old Deputy Chris Dickerson was making a traffic stop at approximately 1:57 a.m. in East Texas, near the border when the suspect, 47-year-old Gregory Newson of Shreveport, Louisiana, shot and killed him. 

Chief Deputy, John Dupresca, told reporters that it is still unclear why Deputy Dickerson pulled Newson’s SUV over, but he did call the dispatcher to inform them of the stop.  A short time later, the suspect opened fire on Dickerson, who returned fire. 

 A short time later, a civilian got onto Dickerson’s radio and informed the Panola County Sheriff’s dispatcher that Deputy Dickerson was lying on the side of the road.  

Paramedics arrived on the scene to rush Dickerson to an area hospital for treatment.  He died a short time after arrival.

Chief Dupresca said that Deputy Chris Dickerson was an 8-year-veteran with the Panola County Sheriff’s Office.  He leaves behind a wife and two children.

Related: Officer Charged with Failing to Stop and Render Aid

Authorities say that a civilian had heard about the incident on their scanner, spotted the suspect vehicle and called 911 to inform them that the SUV was headed toward Shreveport.  Louisiana law enforcement officers gave chase of the suspect vehicle and officers from the Shreveport Police Department apprehended Newson a short time later and placed him under arrest.  He was taken to an area hospital for treatment of at least three gunshot wounds to his leg.

Newson is currently in jail in Louisiana and is expected to be extradited to Texas.