TexasCHLforum.com

http://www.tylerpaper.com/site/news.cfm ... 6369&rfi=6

"SECURITY GUARD ALSO
DISTRACTED KILLER ARROYO

The Tyler Morning Telegraph has learned the identity of a second armed civilian who was in the line of fire of a heavily armed man clad in body armor who fired on the Smith County Courthouse with a semi-automatic assault rifle last week.

Witnesses reported to the newspaper last Thursday that an un-identified man pulled up behind the courthouse in a silver colored 1990s Chevrolet Caprice Classic and exited into a defensive position with his wea-pon drawn and pointed in the direction of David Hernandez Ar-royo Sr.

After a newspaper photographer caught the man and his vehicle on camera during the aftermath of the shooting, the newspaper tried identifying the man.

The Morning Telegraph learned the man was Michael Mosley, 42, of Winona, a security officer with the Southwestern Security Services Inc., stationed in the U.S. Attorney's Office in downtown Tyler


Mosley is certified by the Texas Department of Public Safety as an armed security guard. The DPS Web site lists his license is in good standing.

When showed the photograph, Mosley confirmed it was him and his vehicle in the picture.

"Yes that's me and that's my car," he said.

Mosley refused to talk to the newspaper in detail, but did make a brief statement on Wednesday.

"I am no hero. God watched over me and protected me that day. I am praying for all the families involved and that is all I have to say," he said.

After repeated phone calls to a Southwestern Securities office in Houston, Joseph Morales, a supervisor for the company, told the Morning Telegraph his officer did not fire his gun last week.

"According to him, he did not fire his weapon on that day," Morales said.

However, at least one eyewitness believes Mosley was another deterrent during the tragedy."

....

Mall Ninja?

Later on in the article it says:

"Clay Alexander, Tyler branch of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives resident agent in charge, said he was not surprised to hear that Mosley put himself in danger to protect others.

"I know Mike and I know that he is a fine, quality person. He works security at the U.S. Attorney's Office and we all have a very high regard for him. So no, this doesn't surprise me," he said."

A compliment from the ATF? Now that's impressive.

The Tyler Morning Telegraph has some new details out about the shooter and law enforcement response.

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?news ... 1431&rfi=6

"VIDEO, TAPES TELL STORY OF TERROR

Smith County officials and Tyler police released the courthouse video and audiotapes that detail eight minutes of terror in downtown Tyler last week when a man clad in body armor and armed with a semi-automatic rifle opened fire on his family and officers.

The video documents last Thursday's shootout at the courthouse as it unfolded, and 911 tapes fill in more details with sounds of shooting and reports by frantic callers as gunfire filled the street.

Images from a surveillance camera mounted inside the Spring Avenue entrance of the Smith County courthouse showed David Hernandez Arroyo Sr. as he approached his ex-wife and son at 1:28 p.m.

Suddenly Arroyo began firing a MAK-90 semi-automatic rifle, killing Maribel Estrada, 41, and injuring his son David Arroyo Jr. on the courthouse steps.


Bystanders in the frame scurried for cover as Smith County Sheriff deputies Sherman Dollison, 28, and Andy Langston ran outside with weapons drawn.

Dollison exchanged gunfire with Arroyo and then was shot repeatedly as the window behind him exploded inside the courthouse.

An unidentified man crawled to the doors - then as Arroyo ran southward down the street firing his rifle - the man jumped through the shattered glass window and crawled to safety.

As Arroyo confronted Mark Wilson, a licensed concealed handgun carrier who intervened to save lives, other lawmen began firing at Arroyo from inside the courthouse.

SCSO Lt. Marlin Suell, 38, Tyler Police Det. Clay Perrett, 54, and another unidentified deputy began exchanging gunfire with the man.

Suell suddenly slumped to the floor as he was shot in the back of the neck and Perrett continued to fire until he fell backward, hit in the side of the face by gunfire.

As Arroyo began to drive away, Smith County District Attorney Investigator Jim Castle ran through the metal detectors, then dropped to the floor as Arroyo fired another burst at the courthouse.

Castle rolled to a sitting position and returned fire until Arroyo drove past. Then he and other officers, including the injured Lt. Suell, swarmed out of the courthouse still firing at Arroyo's pickup.

The entire video sequence lasted less than four minutes.

While the video showed Arroyo and officers exchanging gunfire, the 911 tape recordings revealed how people reacted during the shooting.

..."

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and another article:

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?news ... 1431&rfi=6

"Police finally confirmed reports that a heavily armed man clad in body armor not only had the semiautomatic MAK-90 rifle he used to kill two people and shoot four others, but another loaded rifle in his pickup along with 250 live rounds of ammunition.


Tyler Police Chief Gary Swindle told the Tyler Morning Telegraph on Tuesday that David Hernandez Arroyo did in fact have another rifle in his truck when he opened fire at the Smith County Courthouse killing his ex-wife Maribel Estrada, 41, and Mark Wilson, 52.

Authorities believe Arroyo, 43, was distraught over child custody issues when he waited on the east side of the courthouse for his former wife and his son.

A courthouse video released Monday showed Arroyo waiting in his pickup until Ms. Estrada and David Arroyo Jr. exited their vehicle and began to make their way into the courthouse.

Arroyo shot and killed Ms. Estrada and shot his son before shooting and killing Wilson, a licensed concealed handgun carrier who intervened to save lives.

Arroyo then shot and injured Smith County sheriff's Deputy Sherman Dollison, 28, and then shot an injured two other officers as they returned fire.

Officers killed Arroyo after a two-mile chase that ended on East Gentry Parkway.

SECOND WEAPON

Reports began to circulate on Saturday, after the Morning Telegraph asked the question about weapons, that Arroyo had another rifle in his pickup, but Tyler officers would not confirm the information until Tuesday, despite other law enforcement officers making the statements.

"I've heard from investigators that he (Arroyo) had another weapon on him, but we didn't work that crime scene (East Gentry Parkway site); the Tyler Police Department did," Smith County Sheriff J.B. Smith said on Saturday.

SCSO Maj. Mike Lusk and Smith County District Attorney Matt Bingham also stated there was a second gun on Monday; however, the police department refused comment on the question of another gun.

After repeated requests by the Morning Telegraph, Swindle released the information Tuesday afternoon to the newspaper and other media.

Swindle, who was in Austin earlier in the week, said he had no problem releasing the information, because he felt it showed Arroyo planned the attack.

"This further shows that the guy (Arroyo) was not only ready with reloads for the weapon he was firing and body armor, but he had another rifle that was loaded and ready to be fired. He was prepared," he said.

The second weapon in question was a Remington model-7 .243-caliber, bolt-action deer rifle complete with a scope and fully loaded with five rounds.

Police also said Arroyo had four MAK-90 magazines. One empty 40-round magazine, one empty 30-round magazine, two loaded 30-round magazines, 180 rounds in boxes and 10 loose rounds.

Swindle said in a prepared statement there were 65 empty casings found fired from Arroyo's MAK-90 at the courthouse scene.

FATAL SHOT

Officials have said the first responding officers at the courthouse were outgunned and could not match the firepower that Arroyo had, but went into the line of fire to protect citizens and stop the man from killing anyone else.

During the ensuing chase on Tyler streets, Arroyo and officers continued firing at each other and one deputy fired his 9mm handgun at the back of the pickup emptying his weapon.

As Arroyo exited his vehicle on Gentry Parkway, he opened fire once again on officers before attempting to return to his pickup, where he was shot dead.

Bingham said on Monday he believed the fatal shot came from a Tyler police officer armed with an AR-15-type weapon.

Swindle confirmed officers at the scene did in fact fire similar weapons.

"I can safely say there were two officers at that scene who were armed with the AR-15 or M-4, which are basically the same weapon, that fire a .223 round," he said.

Swindle did not know which officer fired the fatal shot because both fired their weapons.

"Both of the officers fired their weapons. Obviously we have to wait for the autopsy report to come back before we can say which officer fired the fatal round," he said.

..."

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I thought it was noteworthy that several brave LEOs also jumped into the fight and that they eventually took down Arroyo Sr. with AR-15s.

Thanks for posting the update. Thankfully, BG stopped near a GG with a long gun.