UPDATE
June 25, 2021
The suspect is in custody. He was tracked to Arkansas by the Wise County Sheriff’s Office, Texas Rangers, and U.S. Marshals. Read more.
June 14, 2021
WISE COUNTY, Texas — Law enforcement authorities in Wise County, Texas are looking for a man they say shot a police officer during a traffic stop Sunday night, according to reports.
A Rhome police officer and Wise County deputies stopped two people on a motorcycle. One of the individuals matched the description of a home invasion robbery suspect from the area earlier in the evening, Sheriff Lance Akin said, NBC DFW reported.
Royce Wood was identified as the suspected shooter of the Rhome police officer during the stop near the intersection of Farm-to-Market roads 407 and 2264.
Wood, 43, was riding a motorcycle with a female passenger when they were pulled over, according to NBC. Authorities did not specify which one matched the description of the home invasion suspect.
Akin said the rider of the motorcycle got off the bike and fired “a couple of shots” at officers and a Rhome police officer was struck in the leg. The wounded officer was taken to a Fort Worth hospital in stable condition.
#UPDATE: Wise County Sheriff Lane Akin confirms this is the suspect they are looking for.
Royce Wood, 43, is the suspect they say shot a Rhome officer in the leg during a traffic stop @NBCDFW
Latest: https://t.co/J0r90HXDDQ pic.twitter.com/gLdP1fNhhD
— Lili Zheng (@LiliNBC5) June 14, 2021
After the shooting, Wood fled the scene on foot. The female passenger was taken into custody, Fox reported. Her charges were not provided.
Wood is described as 6’2″ and 200 pounds. He is bald and has a full beard, green eyes, and was last seen on foot wearing a baseball cap with a camouflage bandana around it. He was also wearing black sunglasses, a vest, and a green shirt.
Anyone with information about Wood’s whereabouts should contact the Wise County Sheriff’s Office at 940-627-5971.
