2 Dallas homicide suspects, Hill County constable shot in interstate gunfight from cars

Two suspects in a Dallas homicide exchanged gunfire with law enforcement officers from a car Thursday and shot a Hill County constable before they were themselves shot, authorities said.

The suspects were in a Dodge Neon and entered Waxahachie, where a city police officer first tried to stop them. The suspects led multiple law enforcement agencies on a multicounty chase on Interstate 35E, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.

The suspects, whose names DPS did not release, fired upon officers and shot the constable, DPS said. The suspects fired more shots as they drove north on I-35W.

When the driver made a U-turn and began traveling south on I-35W, a DPS trooper used his vehicle to stop the suspects’ car in Johnson County near Alvarado.

The suspects again fired on officers, DPS said, who returned fire and shot them.

The suspects and constable were at a hospital late Thursday.

DPS did not release their conditions. Johnson County Sheriff Adam King told KTVT-TV that the constable was expected to recover. Authorities identified the constable as Kevin Cordell, KXAS-TV reported. Cordell was taken to John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth, where he was reported to be doing well after undergoing surgery, according to The Lakelander newspaper.

One suspect was reportedly in critical condition, while the other’s condition was not known.

The pursuit began about 2 p.m. as the Dallas police fugitive apprehension unit was conducting an investigation involving the suspects. DPS did not release the name of the homicide victim the suspects are accused of killing.

The Texas Rangers are leading the investigation.

The Chisholm Trail 100 Club is accepting donations for Cordell at https://www.ct100.org/Special-Officer-Donations/