DALLAS (WBAP/KLIF News) — Both of the surviving officers from Tuesday’s Home Depot shooting in Northeast Dallas are improving at the hospital, and their conditions are “better than expected.”
Dallas Police Association President Mike Mata joined the WBAP Morning News on Thursday and said although one officer was killed, it could have been worse.
“We’re very thankful that those two individuals, being Crystal [Almeida] our officer and Scott [Painter] the employee from Home Depot, are doing so well,” Mata said. “We’re just unfortunately having to bury one of our own.”
Officer Rogelio Santander did not survive the shooting and was pronounced dead Wednesday morning. Mata said both Almeida and Painter are doing better than expected, and that they’re treating Painter as if he’s a regular police officer.
“He’s a hero, just the same as our officers are,” Mata said. “He took three rounds that could have been pointed in the direction of our officers, and we might have lost Crystal also. So he is one of us.”
To hear the entire interview between Mike Mata and the WBAP Morning News, click the media players below.
Part 1
Part 2