Texas Blue Alert in search for suspect accused of shooting police officer in Wise County

A Blue Alert was issued Monday morning for a 43-year-old man accused in the shooting of a police officer in Wise County on Sunday evening, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.

The alert is for Royce Wood, who was last seen about 8 p.m. Sunday near US 287 and Farm Market Road 407 in Rhome.

A Blue Alert is issued when authorities are searching for people who have killed or seriously injured a law enforcement officer, according to the Texas DPS.

Wood was last seen wearing a baseball cap with a camo bandana around it, black sunglasses, a vest, green shirt and shorts, according to the DPS.

The police officer was shot during a traffic stop in Wise County on Sunday evening, according to media reports.

The Wise County Sheriff’s Department and other law enforcement agencies searched for the suspected shooter Sunday night, the Wise County Messenger reported.

Wise County sheriff’s deputies and Rhome police pulled over two people on a motorcycle, according to NBC DFW. At least one of the people matched the description of the suspect in a home invasion in the area Saturday night.

A police officer was shot in the leg and the man on a motorcycle fled on foot. A woman passenger was taken into custody, NBC DFW reported. The officer was taken to John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth in stable condition.

The Wise County Sheriff’s Department had released a photo of Wood Sunday night as they searched for him.

Hope Church, a church in the area where the shooting took place, posted on its Facebook page that churchgoers were attending a Sunday gathering when they heard eight to 12 shots fired outside of the church at 333 FM 407.

“Our bassist looked out as the shooter looked at the door of the Church from our parking lot,” the post said. “He quickly locked the door and ran to warn the rest of the Congregation. As everyone went to the most secure location in the building the Pastor chambered a round and stood watch outside the door of the safest room with the Worship Pastor.”

Police told the group to “hunker down” and wait for the all clear, according to the post.

Sheriff’s deputies set up a perimeter near FM 407 and FM 2264, where the shooting happened just after 8 p.m. The sheriff’s department told people to avoid the area and not answer their doors, the Messenger said.