Texas Border Business
Texas Border Business
McAllen police released detailed information about an incident involving a homeless woman, a police K-9, and an officer-involved shooting in the 900 block of East Expressway 83. According to the department, the incident began when a call for service was received from a dental office reporting a “homeless female, last seen wearing blankets was in front of [their] location.” The reporting person also stated that the “female talked to herself.”
Responding officers made contact with the woman at 8:13 a.m. in the area described in the call. Police said the woman walked away from officers, and by 8:21 a.m., she was reported as “waving a knife.” One minute later, she was reported “walking towards Target still waving a knife.”
By 8:25 a.m., police stated the woman continued to walk west “with a knife to her throat.” At 8:26 a.m., she was reported approaching the business known as “Jersey Mikes” with the knife still held to her neck.” At 8:29 a.m., officers reported she was continuing “towards Jersey Mikes” as they “continued trying to speak to her.”
Police said that as the woman approached populated businesses, officers released K-9 Mino to assist in her arrest. According to the department, “upon Canine MINO’s approach on the suspect, the female stabbed Canine MINO and further threatened Responding Officers.” At that point, the responding officer discharged his duty weapon. Police reported that the woman “suffered a gunshot wound to her lower center-right area lodging in her left buttock.”
Emergency care was given at the scene before she was taken to a local hospital. At the time of the police statement, her injuries were “believed to be non-life threatening,” and she was “scheduled to be treated and released to police custody.” She has been tentatively identified by police as Latonia Wallace, 54, “believed homeless but with a last known address at Duncanville, Texas.”
K-9 Mino suffered stab wounds to “his left eye and upper left eyebrow area” and was transported for emergency veterinary care. Police reported the dog was later “scheduled for transfer to San Antonio for further emergency veterinarian care.”
The officer who fired his weapon is identified as Officer Josiah Alonzo, described by the department as “a 3.5-year Officer at the McAllen Police Department.” Police have not released additional information about video evidence, pending charges, or the dog’s updated medical condition.
