A tragic incident occurred in Terrell, Texas, on the night of December 8, when Officer Jacob Candanoza, 28, was shot and killed while conducting a traffic stop. Candanoza, who had been with the Terrell Police Department since July 2024, had requested a cover unit just before 11 p.m. in the 1600 block of S. State Highway 34. Shortly after, police received two 911 calls reporting that an officer had been shot.
As officers arrived near a Super 8 motel, they confirmed that Candanoza had been injured. He was transported to a nearby hospital but tragically succumbed to his injuries. Despite the devastating situation, Candanoza managed to provide the license plate number of the vehicle involved, which led to a pursuit across Van Zandt County. The suspect was eventually taken into custody.
Candanoza, a former Marine who served from 2014 to 2019, was sworn into the Terrell Police Department earlier this year. Authorities have expressed their condolences to his family and colleagues as they process this heartbreaking loss.
