SMITH COUNTY, Texas — An investigation is underway after a multi-county car chase on Monday morning ended with shots fired and three arrested.
"They’ll be here for quite some time, along with a (Texas) Ranger working, doing the forensic mapping of the scene here, as well as going back and doing the same where we recovered the firearm at the other location," Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith said.
Smith explained a preliminary investigation reveals a pursuit involving a stolen vehicle from Mississippi began in Harrison County shortly after 9 a.m. on Monday. The chase continued into Gregg County before ending in Smith County.
While the pursuit went through Lindale, there was an exchange of gunfire between the suspect vehicle and the Smith County Pct. 5 Constable's Office deputies.
"Shots were fired from inside the vehicle through the back glass on the other side of Lindale, off the interstate. That’s when, shortly after that was when deputy constable returned fire," Smith said.
Smith said that this pursuit was difficult to end because it ran along a major highway, with hundreds of potential victims surrounding the suspects.
"It’s difficult when you’re dealing with the interstate with moderate to heavy traffic, to lay down spikes. But I was listening on the radio as I was headed up this way, they tried multiple times to spike the vehicle, and he was able to see it or it was in heavy traffic, they were unable to do so," Smith said.
Three people were taken into custody. Of the three, one was sent to the hospital to be treated for gunshot wounds.
Due to the exchange of gunfire with police, the Texas Rangers will investigate the situation as well.