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The Texas Department of Public Safety on Tuesday identified the 23-year-old man shot and killed by a trooper early Saturday morning.
He is Carlos Daniel Hernandez, of La Feria.
The shooting happened at approximately 2:34 a.m. on Joe Stephens Avenue near the Mid Valley Airport following a chase that began at around 2:04 a.m., according to a news release.
A DPS trooper had been chasing a black Chevrolet Camaro on the expressway and Mile 2 Road for driving without lights and at a high rate of speed.
The driver lost control after a tire blowout and crashed into a barrier on the expressway and Texas Road.
DPS said Hernandez fled from the scene and during a search of the area, a trooper spotted a man matching the description of the suspect hiding behind a tree near the Mid Valley Airport.
“The male subject began to approach the trooper with his hands behind his back telling the trooper he had a gun,” the release stated. “The trooper drew his department-issued handgun and gave the male subject verbal commands to stop and get on the ground multiple times, but the subject refused.”
The man then advanced on the trooper before entering the trooper’s patrol unit’s driver-side seat while attempting to put the vehicle in drive and activating the vehicle’s emergency siren, according to the release.
“The trooper’s department-issued duty rifle was positioned inside the vehicle,” the release stated. “The trooper discharged his duty weapon, striking the male subject multiple times.”
Hernandez died at the scene.
The Texas Rangers are investigating.
