By Steve Thompson
The Dallas Morning News
ROCKWALL, Texas — An off-duty Garland police officer who intervened in an argument between two motorists in the parking lot of a Rockwall megachurch shot and killed one of the men when a gun was pointed at him, police say.
Witnesses told police that the man who died, 31-year-old Royse City business owner Troy Van Pool, pulled a gun on the officer first.
Police say Mr. Pool got into an argument with another driver along Interstate 30. They both pulled onto an off-ramp near Lake Pointe Church.
Mr. Pool steered his late-model Ford Mustang into the church’s parking lot behind the other man, then pulled up beside him, Rockwall police Lt. Carl Alsabrook said. He “had his windows down and was getting into some type of verbal altercation,” Lt. Alsabrook said.
The off-duty, plainclothes officer, Brandon Hernandez, was in the parking lot and tried to step in.
“The officer asked him to leave the scene, basically, ‘Hey, this is over – why don’t you leave?’ ” Lt. Alsabrook said.
Witnesses said Mr. Pool raised a gun at the officer, who fired several shots. Mr. Pool died at the scene.
“At this time, the investigation is ongoing,” Lt. Alsabrook said. “No decision’s been made regarding charges, if any, that will be filed.”
Mr. Hernandez has been a patrol officer with Garland for about 10 years. He also serves on the agency’s SWAT team.
Mr. Pool lived in Royse City with his wife and 12-year-old son. He ran a business wiring homes for security and entertainment systems.
He underwent a root canal Thursday afternoon and last spoke with his wife about 5:15 p.m. on his way home, family members said. The shooting occurred about 6 p.m.
“I don’t know how sedated or anything else he was,” said his brother, Tracy Pool.
He said his brother enjoyed his work and was committed to his wife and son.
“He just loved his family dearly,” Tracy Pool said. He said his brother and his wife married young and faced many obstacles.
“They’ve done such an unbelievable job of raising a wonderful kid – he is nothing short of spectacular,” Tracy Pool said.
“I can’t sing both of their praises enough – what they’ve done, how they’ve stuck it out, stayed together. They were very committed to making their family work, and they did that.”
Copyright 2008 The Dallas Morning News