ARLINGTON, TX. A former Pierce County man shot and killed a Texas police officer and another person before killing himself Tuesday night, according to police.
Police say Barnes Samuel Nettles, 38, was a registered sex offender in Arlington, Texas for an offense that occurred in Washington state. He had bonded out, and a court date was pending for that incident.
Officers say Nettles fatally shot Arlington Officer Jillian Michelle Smith, 24, while she was taking a domestic assault report at the apartment of Nettles' ex-girlfriend, Kimberly Deshay Carter, 29.
Police believe Nettles shot Smith then Carter and then himself.
Smith was sent to the apartment complex at about 7:30 p.m. to take the report. Twenty minutes later, officers were dispatched to the sameapartment in response to a shooting.
Smith was a rookie police officer for the City of Arlington, Texas. City spokeswoman Tiara Richard saidshe was fatally shot as she tried to shield Carter's 11-year-old daughter. It was not clear whether the officer was able to discharge her weapon in self-defense.
Smith who was sent to the apartment without a partner was apparently taking the assault report when Nettles returned to the apartment and opened fire, first at Smith and then at Carter.
He then went to the living room of the apartment and apparently took his own life.
The 11-year-old-girl was able to escape unhurt.
Two weapons were found at the apartment but it was unclear whether Carter fired at her ex-boyfriend.
Smith is the eighth Arlington Police Officer to die in the line of duty and the second to die in the line of duty this year.
