Officer Shot

HARLINGEN - A Harlingen police officer was in fair condition at Valley Baptist Medical Center this morning after being shot multiple times during a routine traffic stop Wednesday night, officials said.

A police spokesman described the shooting as an "ambush."

Officer Carlos Diaz, a four-year veteran with the Harlingen Police Department, was out of surgery by 1:15 a.m. today and was in the intensive care unit at VBMC, police spokesman David Osborne said.

Diaz had been listed in critical condition before being taken in for surgery, Osborne said Wednesday night. A VBMC nurse supervisor said Diaz was listed in fair condition this morning.

"We know maybe more are planned in the near future, but the good news is that he pulled through the first surgery," Osborne said early this morning

It was not clear where the officer had been shot.

As of early this morning, no arrests had been made and police were searching for a man described as a "known suspect."

The shooting occurred at the intersection of F Street and West Buchanan Avenue about 8:40 p.m., Osborne said. That is the same intersection where a deadly melee occurred last month.

Late Wednesday, his patrol car was parked in the lot in front of the Corner Mart convenience store at that intersection.

The car had several bullet holes in the windshield in the area of the driver's seat. Crime scene investigators had roped off the area with tape and were taking photographs and collecting evidence from the pavement.

Osborne said Diaz had pulled over a vehicle at that intersection. The suspect got out of his car and shot at the officer while he was still in his police car, Osborne said.

"This was basically an ambush," Osborne said. "The suspect opened fire on the officer while he was still seated" in his patrol car.

"It appears the suspect was aiming right at the officer."

"We're still looking for this guy," Osborne said. "When the suspect is apprehended, he will be facing attempted capital murder charges."

A man who lives on Lincoln Avenue about a block away from where the shooting occurred said he was in his back yard and heard about six gunshots about 8:45 p.m.

He said he initially thought the sound was fireworks, but quickly realized it came from gunshots. He said he rushed toward the area and saw police cars speeding away from the scene of the shooting toward Expressway 77/83.

Osborne said Diaz remained calm after he had been shot. Diaz radioed to dispatchers, telling them that he had been shot, he said.

"His training kicked into action," Osborne said.

Osborne said the patrol car had a video camera, which investigators are checking for more information on what happened.

On May 9, a 14-year-old Harlingen boy was stabbed to death at the same intersection, police said. An 18-year-old Harlingen man has been charged with murder in that case.