Alleged Texas cop shooter, subject of Blue Alert, kills self

UPDATE, June 16: HONEY GROVE, Texas — Authorities say a man suspected of shooting a police officer in the leg in a small North Texas city, triggering the issuance of a Blue Alert statewide, appears to have fatally shot himself after a standoff Wednesday with officers.

Honey Grove police said an officer responded to a home because of a possible disturbance and then encountered a man who appeared to be armed with a rifle. Police say a constable arrived to assist, and authorities were fired upon.

Police said the standoff eventually ended when authorities entered the home and found the man dead. The Blue Alert was then cancelled by state officials.

Honey Grove is located about 90 miles northeast of Dallas.

ORIGINAL REPORT, June 15: WISE COUNTY, Texas — As law enforcement searches for a suspect accused of shooting a police officer in north Texas, millions of Texans' phones notified them to be on the lookout Tuesday night with a Blue Alert.

The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) identified the wanted man as Royce Edward Wood, 43. Wood allegedly shot and wounded an officer in Wise County during a traffic stop, ABC affiliate WFAA reported.

"When we heard it was one of our own that had been shot, there was a real sense of dread that fell over us," Wise County Sheriff Lane Akin told WFAA.

Wood is described as 6'2", 200 lbs., with a bald head and a full beard. According to the alert, Wood was last seen wearing a baseball cap with a camo bandana, a green shirt, vest, shorts and black sunglasses.

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice said Wood previously served prison time for robbery and burglary. He was released on parole in 2019.

Now, Wood is on the run and considered dangerous, according to authorities.

"We hope to have him in jail in a matter of days," Sheriff Akin told WFAA. "We think this is a dangerous guy. I know he had an intent to hurt one of our officers. I don't know if he’ll be that way every time, but we know one thing is for sure: someone who’s using methamphetamine is very unpredictable and we think that’s the case here."

The Blue Alert system was launched in Texas in 2008. It was created to let residents across the state know when an offender who killed or seriously injured a federal, state or local law enforcement officer in the line of duty is on the run.