Edward Zapata, a Fort Worth civilian responder and former Marine, was struck in the face by shrapnel while escorting a resident to safety during a vehicle burglary response on April 28. Body-camera footage shows him helping the resident over a fence before he was injured and radioing for help. Police arrested 39-year-old Angel Cantu after a multi-hour manhunt; he faces three counts of aggravated assault against a public servant. Zapata has been released from the hospital and is reported to be in good spirits.
Fort Worth Civilian Responder Shot in the Eye While Escorting Resident During Burglary Call — Suspect Arrested
The incident in Fort Worth on April 28, 2026Credit: InsideFWPD/Youtube
A Fort Worth civilian responder was wounded in the face while helping a resident to safety during a vehicle burglary call late on April 28.
What happened: Edward Zapata, a member of the Fort Worth Police Civilian Response Unit, was assisting a resident when gunfire erupted. Body-worn camera footage released by local outlets shows Zapata rushing the resident over a fence to safety as shots were fired. Moments later, the camera captured Zapata being struck by shrapnel in the face. He immediately radioed for help, saying, "I need officers at my location. Just got uh, took a shot to the face."
Edward Zapata helped the woman to safetyCredit: InsideFWPD/Youtube
Response and arrest: Uniformed officers arrived, ordered the suspect to drop his weapon, and evacuated Zapata and his civilian-response partner (who had been taking cover in a vehicle). Responding units later arrested 39-year-old Angel Cantu after a multi-hour manhunt. Authorities charged Cantu with three counts of aggravated assault against a public servant.
"The suspect is now in custody related to the shooting that occurred earlier today. Thank you to everyone for your support and patience," the Fort Worth Police Department wrote in a Facebook post announcing the arrest.
About the responder: Zapata is a former U.S. Marine with 30 years of service experience and had worked in the civilian response unit for about three weeks at the time of the incident. The department's website notes that civilian response employees are unarmed and typically do not respond when a suspect is on the scene or likely to return; their duties generally include investigating calls, collecting evidence and writing reports.
The scene in Fort WorthCredit: InsideFWPD/Youtube
Condition and community reaction: Fort Worth Police Chief Eddie Garcia later posted that Zapata had been released from the hospital and was in good spirits. In a post on X, Chief Garcia shared a photo of Zapata smiling with a bandage over his left eye and thanked medical staff and city leadership for their support.
Ongoing matters: Local outlets (Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fox 4, NBC DFW and CBS News) provided initial reporting and video. People magazine and other media have sought further comment from the Fort Worth Police Department as the case proceeds.
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