Reported / Citable
DALLAS – United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould announced that a grand jury has indicted Jose Santiago Pantoja-Morales for possession of a firearm by an illegal alien.
The 27-year-old Mexican national allegedly shot a uniformed Dallas Independent School District police officer while attempting to flee on Aug. 6.
“The illegal alien’s alleged actions in this case represent an attack on the rule of law and a direct threat to public safety,” said U.S. Attorney Raybould. “Every day, we ask the men and women who wear the badge to stand between good and evil. It is my duty—and the duty of this office—to do all we can to protect those who protect us. Violence against an officer will not be tolerated, and we will pursue this prosecution with the utmost rigor to ensure full accountability.”
“An officer who was simply doing his job was violently attacked and shot,” said ATF Dallas Field Division Special Agent in Charge Brian Garner. “This case underscores the danger law enforcement officers face every day and the consequences when a firearm is placed in the hands of someone who is prohibited from possessing one. ATF will continue working alongside our law enforcement partners to investigate these cases and ensure those who violate federal firearms laws are held accountable.”
According to the complaint filed Aug. 13, Pantoja-Morales allegedly jumped out of his co-worker’s vehicle into the center median of the Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway. The co-worker then flagged down a Dallas ISD officer who was on routine patrol in the area. The officer gave Pantoja-Morales a ride to a nearby safe location. During the trip, Pantoja-Morales allegedly began rummaging through the officer’s bag in the back seat. The officer stopped and tried to remove him from the vehicle, but Pantoja-Morales allegedly resisted, leading to a physical struggle.
As alleged in the complaint, during the altercation, Pantoja-Morales grabbed the officer’s firearm and fired one shot at the officer, striking him in the femoral artery of his right leg. The officer was able to gain control of his weapon from Pantoja-Morales, who allegedly fled the scene but was quickly apprehended by law enforcement.
A fellow Dallas ISD officer provided medical treatment at the scene prior to him being transported to Parkland Hospital for further medical treatment.
Jose Santiago Pantoja-Morales and the firearm he used with blood on it
The grand jury returned the indictment on Sept. 16. Pantoja-Morales is pending transfer to federal custody pursuant to a writ of habeas corpus filed today. If convicted, the defendant faces a statutory maximum sentence of up to 15 years in federal prison.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives-Dallas Field Office and the Dallas Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nadin-Sarah Salkic is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation of criminal conduct and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Source: U.S. Attorney’s Office — Northern District of Texas — U.S. Department of Justice press release.