By Aaron Drawhorn, KRIS-TV News
The investigation into Sunday morning’s shootout at a Corpus Christi, Tex. apartment complex is far from over.
KRIS-TV News has uncovered new information about the heroic role of other officers who responded at the complex.
One officer who happened to live at the Park Apartments heard the gunfire and ran out to back up his fellow officers.
The Corpus Christi Police Officer’s Association says he and other cops are heros.
Three Corpus Christi police officers were in trouble when they say 21-year-old Ishmael Salahud-Din escaped from a squad car and started firing at the park apartments.
Larry Young, head of the Police Officer’s Association, said, “Until you know the whole story, you just don’t know how awesome it is.”
Young says heroic police officers stepped in to back up their brothers in blue.
When shots rang out, Officer Javier Cantu woke up in his own apartment and ran out to the parking lot.
Young says Cantu took cover under a car, saw the gunman, and shot him.
Young said, “We believe this is all how it came to an end.”
But besides Cantu, Young says the policemen have each other’s backs.
“It’s my information that all the officers that were shot were actually shot in trying to assist another one that was down,” said Young.
Young says Officer Phillip Bintliff took a hit trying to distract the gunman from shooting officer Jose Smith again at close range.
He believes Officer Israel Carrasco also was coming to the aid of his fellow officer when he was shot.
“This is the caliber of officers you have working for you, and that they know there’s gunfire, they don’t turn and run,” Young said.
The chief told 6 News today he’s not even sure if officer Jose Smith, the most seriously wounded, even had a chance to fire his weapon when he arrived at the scene.
He says now they’ll trying to establish what rounds hit who and then track them down to the weapons.
Phillip Bintliff is still at home recovering from his wound.
Israel Carrasco remains hospitalized with leg and shoulder wounds.
Officer Jose Smith remains in critical condition with serious head injuries.
Although he hasn’t opened his eyes yet, a fellow officer, says that Smith reportedly spoke for the first time today.
Meanwhile, a one million dollar bond has been placed on the gunman, 21-year-old Ishmael Salahud-Din.
He faces three counts of attempted capital murder and escape charges.
Salahud-Din has been hospitalized with a leg wound.
Authorities also say he has a criminal record for evading arrest in San Antonio.