A statewide manhunt is underway for a 64-year-old Texas man accused of shooting a police officer and a K-9 in Jacksonville, with authorities warning that the suspect should be considered armed and dangerous.
Bobby Michael Dennis, now added to Texas’ 10 Most Wanted Fugitives List, was last seen fleeing in a gray 2012 GMC Sierra pickup truck with Texas license plate TRW 3919. Law enforcement has issued a Blue Alert — a notification system designed to speed the apprehension of violent suspects who kill or seriously wound local, state, or federal law enforcement officers.
Schools Closed as Search Intensifies
The incident has sent ripples through the Jacksonville community. Jacksonville Independent School District closed all campuses on Friday, November 3, citing the ongoing manhunt and increased police presence in the area as the reason for the shutdown.
Authorities have issued warrants for Dennis’s arrest on charges of Aggravated Assault Against a Public Servant and Interference with a Police Service Animal. The severity of the charges reflects the state’s tough stance on crimes against law enforcement.
What’s driving the urgency? Dennis is believed to be heavily armed, and officials fear he may attempt to flee the state or engage in further violence.
Governor Offers Substantial Reward
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has thrown the weight of his office behind the search, announcing a $10,000 reward for information leading to Dennis’s capture. The substantial bounty underscores the seriousness with which state officials are treating the attack.
“Attacks on our men and women in uniform must stop,” Abbott stated in a release from his office. “Our law enforcement officers who selflessly risk their lives every day to serve and protect must know they will always have the full support of the State of Texas.”
The governor’s statement continued with a direct appeal to the public: “Anyone with information relating to this heinous crime is strongly urged to call the Texas Crime Stoppers hotline or submit an anonymous tip online. Texas is a law-and-order state, and the dangerous criminal who attacked a Jacksonville Police Officer and their K-9 will experience the full weight of justice brought against him.”
Public Safety Concerns
The Texas Department of Public Safety has listed Dennis as armed and dangerous, warning citizens not to approach him but instead to contact authorities immediately with any information on his whereabouts.
Blue Alerts, similar to Amber Alerts for abducted children, are relatively rare and are only activated in cases involving serious harm to law enforcement officers when the suspect remains at large. The alert system, deployed across multiple platforms including emergency broadcast systems and highway signs, aims to enlist public assistance in capturing dangerous suspects.
Officials haven’t released details about the condition of the wounded officer or K-9, though the charges suggest both survived the attack.
For now, Jacksonville residents remain on edge as heavily armed tactical teams continue their search for a man who has suddenly become one of the most wanted fugitives in Texas — a stark reminder of the dangers faced daily by those who wear the badge.
