Author: American Military University
By PoliceOne Staff
DALLAS ā A Dallas officer who was critically wounded in a shooting that killed her colleague has been released from the hospital.
The Dallas Morning News reported that Officer Crystal Almeida was released from a rehab facility at a Dallas hospital Saturday, three weeks after the shooting. To Almeidaās surprise, about 50 Dallas officers lined up outside the hospital as she was released to go home.
“Maybe she thought that we were going to let her go without a proper send off, but that wasn’t happening. No, no, no,” Sgt. Shannon Smith said.
On April 24, Almeida and Officer Rogelio Santander were shot while attempting to arrest a suspect at a Home Depot. Santander succumbed to his injuries a day after the shooting.
Almeida was shot in the face and critically wounded. Loss-prevention officer Scott Painter was also critically injured in the shooting, and was released from the hospital earlier this month.
The suspected gunman, Armando Luis Juarez, was arrested after a five-hour manhunt.
Almost everyone in the department whoād known Almeida was at the hospital Saturday, including officers who were supposed to be off. Patrol vehicles escorted Almeida and her family home, where she will continue her recovery.
“For the sacrifice that she gave, and to see her walk out of there on her own two feet, it was amazing and it was encouraging,” Smith said. “She just never stopped fighting.”
Itās unclear when Almeida will return to work, but Smith said officers will visit and check on her at home until she fully recovers.
“That girl’s made me cry more than anybody,” Smith said. “She’s just so strong. She’s just really remarkable. You would think after being shot twice in the face, you wouldn’t have high spirits, but she has very high spirits.”
Juarez remains in the Dallas County Jail on $4.1 million bond.
