East Texas standoff ends with officer and suspect dead

TYLER (AP) A man shot and killed an East Texas constable and injured a deputy responding to a domestic disturbance call Wednesday before officers fat/ally shot him, authorities said.

Constable Dale Geddie, 45, was killed, and Smith County Sheriff's Deputy Daniel Leon, 34, was expected to recover after undergoing surgery. Sheriff J.B. Smith said Leon was hit twice in the leg and once in the arm.

Officers shot the suspect, 52year-old Joseph Earl Walsh, in the chest after he emerged from the house where he was holed up for more than two hours in a standoff with police, authorities said.

"He came out of the front door armed and in an aggressive manner and Tyler police SWAT members shot him," Martin said.

Smith said he couldn't say what prompted Walsh to shoot Geddie and Leon. "I'm not going to say anything about the crime, just to say that this all started over a domestic disturbance," he said.

The Texas Rangers and the Tyler Police Department are taking the lead in the investigation.

Officials had negotiated with the suspect before he walked out of the home and was shot, Texas Department of Public Safety spokeswoman Jean Dark said.

"He came out with a rifle like he was hunting," Troup Police Chief Pat Hendrix said in Thursday's Tyler Morning Telegraph.

Shawn Walker said Walsh, his stepfather, "was disabled and he was sick ... he was a good man."

The shooting happened after the two officers arrived at the home, which has bars on the windows, Martin said.

Federal, state and local officers surrounded the house and snipers were positioned. Some neighbors were evacuated, and others were told to stay inside their homes away from doors and windows.

Walsh was reportedly armed with a deer rifle and at least 150 rounds of armor-piercing ammunition.