Full Breakdown
Dallas Police Officer Shot After Struggle with Illegal Immigrant
By Drooid · · How we work
Incident Overview
In August, Jose Santiago Pantoja-Morales, a 27-year-old Mexican national, was stopped by a Dallas Independent School District (DISD) police officer after the officer helped him reach a safer location from the median of the Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway. While the officer was driving, Pantoja-Morales began searching the officer’s bag. A physical struggle ensued, during which Pantoja-Morales allegedly seized the officer’s firearm and fired a single round. The bullet struck the officer’s right leg, damaging the femoral artery. The officer regained control of his weapon, and a second DISD officer provided medical aid before the wounded officer was taken to Parkland Hospital. Pantoja-Morales fled the scene but was apprehended shortly thereafter by law-enforcement officers.
Legal Action
Federal authorities indicted Pantoja-Morales on a charge of possession of a firearm by an undocumented immigrant, as announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nadin-Sarah Salkic is prosecuting the case. If convicted, the statute allows a sentence of up to 15 years in federal prison. The indictment was returned by a grand jury, and the case is being investigated by the ATF Dallas Field Office and the Dallas Police Department.
Official Responses
U.S. ATF Dallas Field Division special agent in charge Brian Garner called the incident a stark reminder of the dangers law-enforcement officers face when a prohibited individual obtains a firearm.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The illegal alien’s alleged actions in this case represent an attack on the rule of law and a direct threat to public safety,” — U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould
- “An officer who was simply doing his job was violently attacked and shot,” — Brian Garner
- “Every day, we ask the men and women who wear the badge to stand between good and evil,” — U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould
Current Status
As of the CBS update on September 23, 2026, Pantoja-Morales is awaiting transfer to federal custody under a writ of habeas corpus filed earlier in the week.