According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, a truck driver was shot and killed by law enforcement officers after driving a truck into a busy mall on Saturday night, injuring five people.
Per local NBC affiliate KXAN, a DPS trooper tried to stop a black pickup truck after a 911 caller reported a possible intoxicated driver in Belton (about 20 miles from Killeen) at around 5 p.m. on Saturday. The driver refused to stop, prompting a chase. Texas Department of Public Safety Sgt. Bryan Washko said during a news conference Saturday night that the man plowed into the front of a JC Penney store at the Killeen Mall in Killen (nearly 70 miles north of Austin), shattering the glass doors and continuing to drive his black pickup about 100 yards while “striking multiple people” and “actively running people over.” The suspect was shot and killed by law enforcement. He was identified by the Texas Department of Public Safety as 53-year-old Darrel Schultz of Kempner, Texas.
At least five people ranging in age from 6 to 75 were injured; four were taken by ambulance to area hospitals, and one person self-transported. Washko said: “Thankfully he was stopped when he was, because it could have been so much worse. This mall is pretty busy this time of year.”
Texas DPS will lead the investigation into the incident, with the Texas Rangers Division (part of Texas DPS) also involved.
Editorial credit: Cin8 Films / Shutterstock.com