Dallas Police Chief's Son Killed in Shootout

A shootout late Sunday in the Dallas suburb of Lancaster left three people dead, including 27-year-old son of Dallas Police Chief David Brown, reports CBS station KTVT in Dallas.

Investigators in Texas say the 27-year-old son of Dallas Police Chief David Brown is believed to have been the shooter in the death of a suburban police officer and another man.

Dallas County Sheriff's Deputy Lupe Valez says David Brown Jr. appears to have shot 23-year-old Jeremy McMillan and then Officer Craig Shaw when he and others responded to a call of shots fired Sunday night.

The officers returned fire, and Brown was killed.

Lancaster Police Chief Keith Humphrey has said Shaw was the first officer killed in the line of duty in the small city about 15 miles south of Dallas.

Officer Shaw was responding to a call for a domestic disturbance call with shots fired at an apartment complex around 6 p.m. on Sunday. According to Lancaster Police Chief Keith Humphrey, when police arrived on the scene, the suspect opened fire and struck the officer. The officer shot back and struck the suspect.

At a Sunday night press conference, the First Assistant Chief of the Dallas Police Department, Charles Cato, confirmed that David O'Neal Brown Jr. was killed in the incident. He is the son of the department's new chief, David Brown.

Brown Jr. is the Chief's son from a previous marriage. He does have a 2003 drug charge.

"I'm just hysterical, wondering what's going on," said apartment complex resident Jackie Goldman, who stood nearby as investigators searched for clues in this case. "Somebody I love could be dead."

A blue tarp hung over a car near the entrance of the apartment complex parking lot. Witnesses said that they saw gunfire near that vehicle. "I was standing here," said resident Tiffany James, pointing to a spot near the vehicle. "I seen the officer when they shot the car. I'd seen when they shot the car."

Chief Brown did not attend the Sunday night police press conference. He was with his family, Cato said, mourning the deaths of his son and the Lancaster police officer. Cato closed the police press conference by asking for support from Dallas residents.

"Chief Brown asks the Dallas community to keep his family in their prayers this evening and in the days to come," Cato said, "as his family tries to comprehend the circumstances surrounding this tragic incident."

Watch local video from CBS station KTVT

"It's a very difficult situation for me and my officers," Humphrey said during a press conference that was held earlier Sunday evening. "I would ask you keep us and all of our employees in your prayers."

Police did not identify the killed officer out of respect for his family, but Humphrey did say that he was a 37-year-old officer and a five year veteran of the department. "[He was] one of the best people, one of the top officers in the department -- very caring, very giving, selfless, hard worker," Humphrey said. "He lost his life defending the citizens of Lancaster."

Humphrey explained that the department had previously received emergency calls from that apartment complex, but nothing that would cause any alarm. He referred to the calls as "routine."

Four hours after the shootout took place, residents continued to line the police tape hanging around the apartment complex, while officers from other nearby departments canvassed the scene for evidence. The Dallas County Sheriff's Department will aid in the investigation.