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Cedar Hill Police Officers Burned Trying To Apprehend Suspect

CEDAR HILL (CBS 11 NEWS) - Cedar Hill Police confirm that three officers have been rushed to the hospital with burn injuries while trying to take a suspect into police custody.

Eyewitnesses say the suspect ran into the Wing Stop restaurant near Highway 67 and Beltine Rd. in Cedar Hill, screaming that he had gasoline.

Witnesses say a police officer, who was responding to a burglary call, confronted the suspect and took out her Taser.  Investigators say the suspect then set himself on fire.

"As he was running from her, he was dumping the gas on his head.  It was like a water bottle or Gatorade bottle," said Robert Gonzales.

Three officers were burned after trying to stop him and take him into custody.  The female officer who made initial contact with him had the most severe injuries.  Police say the suspect was shot by the officers.

"As he's running across the parking lot, you hear, "Boom!" He hits the ground.  We are still putting her out.  Her head, her chest, her lower legs, her thighs and upper forearms were badly burned," said Spencer Stroud.

The critically injured officer was rushed to Parkland by air ambulance.  The two other officers and the suspect were also taken to Parkland.  His condition has not been released.

Wingstop Restaurants has released the following statement:

"We are deeply saddened by the reported events that took place in the parking lot outside a Cedar Hill Wingstop location today, and our thoughts are with the injured parties. At this time we have no additional information to provide, but we are working closely with the authorities in their investigation."

(©2014 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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