Federal prosecutors say 27-year-old Jose Santiago Pantoja-Morales allegedly grabbed a Dallas ISD officer's gun during an Aug. 6 struggle in a Sam's Club parking lot and shot the officer in the right femoral artery. The officer regained control of his firearm and received treatment at Parkland Hospital after another DISD officer rendered aid. A federal grand jury indicted Pantoja-Morales on Sept. 16, 2026, for possession of a firearm by an alien unlawfully present in the U.S.; he faces up to 15 years if convicted. The ATF Dallas Field Office and Dallas Police Department investigated, and the U.S. Attorney pledged vigorous prosecution.
Dallas School Police Officer Shot in Leg After Suspect Allegedly Seizes His Gun; Federal Indictment Filed
Jose Santiago Pantoja-Morales allegedly shot a Dallas ISD police officer in a Sam's Club parking lot in Dallas on Aug. 6, 2026, after the officer stopped to help him.
A 27-year-old man has been federally indicted after prosecutors say he grabbed a Dallas Independent School District (DISD) police officer's firearm during a struggle and shot the officer in the leg.
Federal court records identify the defendant as Jose Santiago Pantoja-Morales. According to the complaint, the incident occurred on Aug. 6, 2026, in a Sam's Club parking lot near the Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway in Dallas.
What Happened
Prosecutors say Pantoja-Morales, who is alleged to have been in the United States illegally, jumped out of a co-worker's car and into the freeway median. The co-worker flagged down a uniformed DISD officer on routine patrol, who offered to drive Pantoja-Morales to a nearby safe location.
During the ride, the complaint alleges, Pantoja-Morales began rummaging through the officer's bag while seated in the back. The officer pulled over and attempted to remove him from the vehicle; a physical struggle followed. Prosecutors say that during that struggle the suspect grabbed the officer's firearm and fired once, striking the officer in the femoral artery of his right leg.
Aftermath and Medical Response
Despite the gunshot wound, the officer regained control of his weapon. Another DISD officer provided immediate first aid at the scene, and the wounded officer was later transported to Parkland Hospital for further treatment. Pantoja-Morales fled the scene but was quickly apprehended by law enforcement, according to prosecutors.
Charges and Investigation
A federal grand jury returned an indictment on Sept. 16, 2026, charging Pantoja-Morales with possession of a firearm by an alien unlawfully present in the United States. If convicted on the federal charge, he faces up to 15 years in prison. He is awaiting transfer to federal custody under a writ of habeas corpus filed in the case.
The ATF Dallas Field Office and the Dallas Police Department investigated the incident. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nadin-Sarah Salkic is prosecuting the case.
"The illegal alien's alleged actions in this case represent an attack on the rule of law and a direct threat to public safety," U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould said in a statement. "Violence against an officer will not be tolerated, and we will pursue this prosecution with the utmost rigor to ensure full accountability."
The allegations in the indictment have not been proven in court. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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