Brackettville Bailout leads to gun shots heard as police search for 5 suspects near Fort Clark Springs

  A bailout occurred at approximately 11:35 AM on Christmas Eve just south of Brackettville on FM 131 as four to 5 suspects fled into the brush country, according to a report by DPS officials.  At about 4:30 PM DPS officers and other law enforcement officials were seen inside the Fort Clark Springs community with a number of officers dressed in camouflage carrying AR style rifles heading west to search a brushy area west of Sunset Lane. A drone was seen hovering over the area.

   Residents were advised by the Kinney County Sheriff’s department to stay indoors and to keep their doors locked. Despite the warning, The Uvalde Hesperian saw a female in her 20’s-30’s jogging on a main road through the Community. When asked if she was aware of the police search, she said she was. 

   The Kenney County Sheriff’s Office issued the following statement on Facebook about noon:

  “Law Enforcement ended a pursuit of a vehicle on highway 131 towards Brackettville, Texas. All occupants absconded on foot towards the back end of Ft. Clark Springs. All occupants are to be considered armed and dangerous. Stay in doors and keep all doors and vehicles locked. Updates will follow. Call 911 if any suspicious persons are seen.”

   A following update was later posted, by the Kinney County Sheriff’s Office:

   “Chief Deputy Garcia: TX DPS, Kinney Co Sheriff’s Deputies and US Border Patrol will remain in the area searching for the suspects. A large perimeter has been set and several groups of offices are on the ground searching for the suspects. Law Enforcement is considering the suspects to be armed and dangerous. Keep all doors locked and secure. Call 911 if you see any suspicious persons. Area of concern is Fort Clark Springs and the surrounding area to include the City of Brackettville. Total at latge (sic)is 5. Updates to follow…”

   The Texas Department of Public Safety issued the following report that afternoon about 5 PM:

  “Following a pursuit, driver came to a stop where he fled the scene with approximately 4-5 individuals believed to be undocumented. Unknown if the driver was documented. 

The driver and passengers crossed into a brush field where (a) trooper reported gun shots were heard.

   Trooper stopped chasing the group and called for assistance. Several agencies including DPS aircraft, DPS K9, Game Wardens, County SO and others responded. Trooper was not injured and did not shoot back.” 

 As of the morning of December 25th, Christmas Day, no additional information has been issued on the status of the search.