Police identify shooter, victims after 3 officers shot, 2 residents killed in Haltom City

A gunman killed two civilians and wounded three police officers and another resident before taking his own life Saturday night in Haltom City, according to police.

Police on Sunday identified the wounded officers as Cpl. Zach Tabler, who has been with the Haltom City department for seven years; Officer Tim Barton, with six years of service; and Officer Jose Avila, with five years of service.

Police said the two residents who were killed are Collin Davis, 33, and Amber Tsai, 32, who lived at the home were the shooting started, according to property records. An older woman, a neighbor who called 911, was also shot but is doing OK, police said at a news conference Sunday afternoon.

Police identified the shooter as Edward Freyman, 28.

The wounded officers were taken to local hospitals and they are expected to survive, police said. One officer was shot in his right arm, finger and leg. Another was hit in both legs, and a third was hit in his upper thigh.

Haltom City Police Department spokesman Sgt. Rick Alexander said Tsai was found dead inside her home and Davis was found dead in the driveway.

It is not yet known if the shooter had any relation to any of the victims or what his motive might have been, Alexander said.

The initial call of shots fired came in around 6:45 p.m. Saturday, Alexander said. The caller told police the shooting was in the 5700 block of Diamond Oaks Drive North. Another call at 6:52 p.m. reported continued shots fired.

A minute after the second call, police had reports of officers injured. Witnesses told the Star-Telegram that they saw one of the officers fall down after being wounded by gunfire. Other officers with shields surrounded him and carried him away, they said.

Officers returned fire but it’s unknown how many shots they or the gunman fired. It’s unclear whether the suspect was hit by police gunfire.

Alexander said police believed the shooter, armed with a rifle, may have been trying to run and worked to lock down the area.

“The main concern, obviously, was getting the scene secured, trying to get to our officers, be able to get them out of harm’s way, while also keeping containment on the suspect,” Alexander said at a news conference.

The gunman, whose name has not been released, was found in the 3900 block of Golden Oaks Drive — about half a mile from the original crime scene — with an apparently self-inflicted wound to the head, police said. He was found with a handgun “in the vicinity of his arms” and a “military-style rifle” near him, Alexander said.

The shooting led to an hours-long lockdown of the surrounding area. Residents were cautioned to stay indoors if they were home and to avoid the area if they weren’t there already, but a crowd still gathered across Denton Highway to watch as the manhunt continued.

About 8 p.m., an officer told the crowd an active shooter was still in the area and they should leave for their safety. About 9 p.m., police announced that the gunman was no longer a threat.

Earlier in the evening, police shared a map of the search area, east of Denton Highway, south of Glenview Drive and north of Webster Street.

In a statement on Facebook, Haltom City police said, “We are asking that residents in the area of Glenview and Denton HWY remain in their homes. We are working an active scene and have an armed suspect. He is described as a white male, dark hair, wearing blue shirt, blue pants, ‘battle belt,’ and is armed with a rifle. He was last seen in the area of Cedarcrest (Drive). If seen, do not approach and call 911.”

Police also sent warnings to residents via automated voice messages and texts.

People in the area said there were too many gunshots to count. Police quickly surrounded the neighborhood, they said.

One resident, Ryan Barron, said he heard what sounded like semiautomatic gunfire but that some people didn’t seem to react to it.

“There was a lot of people outside and everyone was just acting casual like nothing was happening,” he told the Star-Telegram in a social media message. “... It was just crazy that no one knew what a gunshot sounded like and how casual everything was.”

Barron said he walking along Glenview in an open area where homes are being built behind a gas station. He said he would’ve “had nowhere to run if they came down that road.”

Officers from at least five different agencies responded, including Fort Worth and North Richland Hills police, the Texas Department of Public Safety and the U.S. Marshals Service. Officers in tactical gear and a helicopter assisted in the manhunt.

While the gunman was confirmed dead, police continued to block some roads and nearby parking lots in the area past at least 10:30 p.m.

Alexander asked the public for their support and prayers for the officers and their families and for their understanding as police continue to investigate in the area.

“We’ll pull through this and be strong like we always do,” Alexander said.

The Texas Rangers will investigate the shots fired by officers, Haltom City police said.

If you or a loved one is experiencing a crisis or suicidal thoughts, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.

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