Florida fugitive who stabbed detective with eyeglasses during escape shot dead in Texas

Alberto Morales / CBS

Updated at 1:33 p.m. ET

GRAPEVINE, Texas A Florida prisoner who escaped after stabbing a detective with his eyeglasses was shot and killed by Texas law enforcement officers early Saturday after police responded to a report of a home burglary, authorities said.

Alberto Morales was shot shortly after midnight when officers, with assistance from a police helicopter, spotted him in a wooded area near a lake in North Texas, Grapevine police Sgt. Robert Eberling said. Two hours earlier, officers responded to a report that jewelry and men's clothing had been stolen during a break-in at a home near where Morales was found.

Eberling said at a Saturday news conference that officers instructed Morales to lay on the ground and show his hands, but he rushed toward them, at which point they opened fire. He said the fugitive was still wearing part of his prison-issued jumpsuit as well as jogging pants, but Eberling said he couldn't comment on whether the stolen clothing and jewelry was found with Morales.

• Escaped Texas prisoner described by police as "schizophrenic"

The residents arrived home around 10:30 p.m. Friday to discover the burglary at their home and called law enforcement officials, Eberling said.

Play Video

911 call: Alberto Morales allged stabbing victim

The 42-year-old Morales escaped Monday at a Wal-Mart store parking lot in Grapevine, a community near the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. Police said he used a sharp piece from his eyeglasses to stab a Miami-Dade detective who was transferring him by car to Nevada, where Morales was to serve a sentence of 30 years to life after being convicted of a sexual assault.

Det. Jaime Pardinas was expected to recover after being treated at a Dallas hospital for deep stab wounds to the neck, shoulder and back and a collapsed lung. It wasn't clear when he would be released.

Pardinas was accompanied by Miami-Dade Detective David Carrero during the transfer. They flew to Houston with Morales and then decided to drive the rest of the way after he became disruptive on the flight. They had stopped near the store while waiting for a third officer who was flying to the Dallas area to join them. Department policy requires three officers to be present for ground transfers of prisoners.

On a recording of a 911 call of the incident released Wednesday, Pardinas can be heard breathing heavily as he tells the operator that he's been stabbed. He described Morales' height, weight and appearance and then added, "He's a schizophrenic."

The escape set off a massive five-day manhunt in North Texas.

[commenter777]

Don't feel too good because of seeing an unlucky human being suffer. If you live long enough you will experience tremendous human suffering. Just wait and see and remember I told you so when your stuff hits the fan. It happens to anyone who lives long enough. Get ready!!!

[commenter777]

The cop that got stabbed was totally unprepared mentally to complete his job effectively and got this poor insane person that had been treated the way insane people get treated in the US killed because of his ineptitude. Also, this poor insane fellow that had a really lousy life since he was born was murdered by the cops that found him. This is just simple facts.

[TribalFaction]

I think I like the former cop in California better, who wants to see cops get away with murder repetitively? Viva la Cop Killers

[1pheasant1]

I'm sure you can join him in posthumus wedlock. Will you wear white?

[baghdadroz]

Crikey, did he learn that one from McGyver?

[sawmillworker1963]

Isn't Texas justice great. More states should follow in their footsteps mainly with the way they quickly carry out their deaths sentences.

[1pheasant1]

We don't fear cowards, Super. Especially those wearing knickers and buckled shoes, while playing a fife.

[Noval53]

Good shooting by the good guys; eliminating a real maggot. Clearly guns can accomplish good things; saves prison & court costs too.

[jkboston]

ohhhhh, by the headline I though a detective with eyeglasses was stabbed.

[gbgentleman]

If I'm an escaped prisoner on the run, the LAST place I go is Texas. Then again Texas is the last place I'd go anyway.

[fishguru00]

Please, stay away...

[NickpearlMpls]

This is the second media account of an important event that changes its story line. First reports stated the prisoner escaped when one of the detectives had to go into the store to the bathroom. Now, no mention of that. Seems the liberal massage of the facts (including leaving facts out) is further diminishing my trust in the media.

[jeff_n_kabul]

Transfering a convict. I assume shackled and handcuffed in the back of a car where the inside latch won't open the door and a heavy wire screen between the driver and prisoner. Works his way loose from his manacles, excapes the back seat, attacks the driver with a viscious pokey thing from his glasses, and escapes only to assault another set of officers miles away. A combination of Hanibal Lecter and Houdini. Guess I'm glad they put that mad-dog down.