By MES Dispatch staff
The Briefing
• A Johnson County, Texas, sheriff’s deputy was injured and a suspect was fatally shot after gunfire erupted while first responders investigated a structure fire.
• Deputies and firefighters were dispatched early Wednesday morning to a reported house fire near County Road 605 in Burleson.
• Gunfire began as crews arrived on scene, and one deputy was struck by shrapnel from a ballistic shield.
• Deputies located an armed 75-year-old man and exchanged gunfire, resulting in the suspect’s death.
• The Texas Rangers are leading an investigation into the shooting incident.
BURLESON, TX — A Johnson County Sheriff’s Office deputy was injured and a suspect was fatally shot after gunfire broke out while first responders were investigating a residential structure fire early Wednesday morning, authorities said.
Deputies and local fire crews were dispatched to a reported house fire in the 5400 block of County Road 605 in Burleson shortly after 1 a.m., officials said.
As firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze, gunfire erupted near the residence, prompting deputies to intervene. One deputy was struck in the face by shrapnel from a ballistic shield and was taken to a Fort Worth hospital, treated for minor injuries and later released.
Officials said deputies located a man identified by the Texas Department of Public Safety as 75-year-old William James Rogers, who was reportedly armed with a pistol. Deputies and the suspect exchanged gunfire, and Rogers was killed at the scene.
Fire crews temporarily paused firefighting efforts during the shooting but were able to resume once the scene was secured, and the blaze has since been extinguished, authorities said.
The Texas Rangers are conducting an investigation into the circumstances of the shooting at the request of the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office.