Suspect in Sept. 11 Officer-Involved Shooting Dies

The supect shot in the officer-involved shooting on Sept. 11, succumbed to his injuries and died in a local hospital yesterday at 1:30 a.m., Police Chief Tim Vasquez confirms.

Gerald Cole, 54, was hospitalized around 4:00 p.m. last Thursday, after sustaining at least one shot from responding San Angelo police officers, when he climbed out of his vehicle brandishing a handgun. 

The incident began at approximately 1:34 p.m., when officers were dispatched to a domestic violence call at the Re/Max office on Knickerbocker. Upon arrival, the female victim, whose identity has not been released, stated that Cole had threatened her with a firearm and fled before police arrival. 

Cole continued to threaten the victim via text message, and roughly two hours later, the suspect was seen circling the area around Re/Max in his red Dodge Ram 1500. Officers attempted to stop Cole, who then led them on a low-speed chase ending in front of the the Bellagio at Sunset apartments in the 2500 block of Sweetbriar. Once stopped, Cole exited his vehicle brandishing a handgun and was shot at least once by responding officers.

Details of the incident surrounding the shooting have not been released to the public, and the Texas Rangers have taken over the investigation, as is customary when a police officer is involved in a shooting incident. 

Photos taken at the scene depict two bullet holes in the windshield of a San Angelo Police Tahoe, as well as several in the door of the Dodge. Whether or not Cole fired on officers after exiting the vehicle armed has not been released.

Cole remained in the hospital for a week before succumbing to his injuries yesterday. His body is being sent to Lubbock for an autopsy, and Vasquez said he will not be able to confirm if Cole sustained more injuries until the autopsy report is received. 

"Our thoughts go out to the family," Chief Vasquez said. "This is a very traumatic event and a bad situation. Unfortunately, things like this happen in the job that we do. An event like this affects so many people--not only the suspect's family, but also the families of the officers that were involved that were put in that situation."

Vasquez said both officers that were on scene when the shooting took place are doing well and are anticipated to return to work soon. 

When the Texas Rangers complete the investigation, it will be turned over to the Tom Green County District Attorney's Office.