News Release By Chief Mike Bishop
Saturday August 29, 2015
Updated: 3:26 p.m.
On August 28, 2015 at 11:08 p.m., an off-duty Longview Police Officer was at Walgreen’s located at 1775 W Loop 281 when he noticed an individual in a vehicle parked near the front of the store. The off-duty officer noticed that the suspect had what appeared to be a white mask covering his head. The off-duty officer went across the street and called police. During this time the suspect moved his vehicle to the West side of the building and out of security camera view. Longview Police responded to the parking lot of Walgreens. When the first responding officer arrived he encountered a single white male suspect, later identified as Devin Brian Dial 23 of Longview, inside a vehicle. When the officer began to get out of his vehicle the suspect got out of his car and displayed a weapon to the officer. The officer fired his duty weapon striking the suspect. The suspect was transported to Good Shepherd Medical Center with life-threatening injuries. The Texas Rangers are currently investigating this officer involved shooting. When more information becomes available it will be released.
The Longview Police Department is continuing to work hand in hand with the Texas Rangers on this investigation. We will continue to be transparent during this investigation, as in previous officer involved situations. At this time the Texas Rangers are conducting interviews of those involved and processing evidence from the scene. At this point, investigators have been able to determine that the weapon the suspect displayed was a Glock .380 caliber handgun.
While the Texas Rangers conduct their investigation, the Longview Police Department’s Internal Affairs Office will also be performing their own internal investigation to ensure that all Longview Police Department policies and procedures were followed. Once the investigation is completed by the Texas Rangers, it will be sent to the Gregg County District Attorney’s Office for review and presentation to a Gregg County Grand Jury. The officer involved has been placed on routine paid administrative leave as a part of this ongoing investigation.
UPDATE: The suspect in this case, Devin Dial, has been pronounced dead by Justice of the Peace B.H. Jameson. Dial's body will be sent to Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences located in Dallas for autopsy. This case remains under investigation by the Texas Rangers.