Euless, Texas, Police Officer David Hofer Killed By Man Just Out Of Jail And High On Meth
Euless, Texas, police officer David Hofer was fatally shot in the line of duty at J.A. Carr Park Tuesday afternoon. According to WFAA News 8, the incident took place after several officers responded to reports of a suspicious person and gunfire around 2 p.m.
Euless Police Chief Mike Brown shared a few detail surrounding David Hofer’s death in a press conference Tuesday night.
“Upon arrival, officers encountered a suspect with an unknown weapon. The suspect immediately fired upon officers, striking one of them. Officers returned fire, striking the suspect.”
Officer David Hofer was taken to Baylor Scott & White Medical Center in Grapevine, where he died during surgery. Hofer’s killer, identified as 22-year-old Jorge Brian Gonzalez, was transported to John Peter Smith Hospital, where he, too, was pronounced dead.
Gonzalez’s family told Fox4 Wednesday that he was high on methamphetamine when he shot David Hofer. His father and sister said the assailant had been in and out of jail many times over the last several years. He was just released from the Euless jail around 11:30 a.m. the very day he killed Hofer.
Gonzalez’s sister said David Hofer had visited their home in the past when Brian Gonzalez was having problems. Jennifer Gonzalez said she and her father thought highly of Hofer, and were deeply saddened he was the one her brother killed.
David Hofer was just 29-years-old, and joined the Euless Police Department in 2014. He grew up in Brooklyn, New York, and served five years with the NYPD prior to moving to Texas. David lived in Plano with his fiancée, Marta Danylyk.
Friends told Dallas Morning News that David Hofer even proposed to Marta in uniform. Not long after joining the Euless Police Department, Hofer devised a plan to surprise Danylyk by asking her to ride along with him during a shift.
David pretended to respond to a report of a suspicious van. After telling Danylyk she had to get out of the car, several of the couple’s friends and family members jumped out of the van to surprise her. Hofer then dropped to one knee to ask for her hand in marriage. Marta’s friend, Brett Ferraro, said Hofer crafted the entire plan on his own.
“It was all his idea. He was so dedicated to his job, family, Marta and the community. He wanted to propose in blue.”
The Dallas Morning News reports David Hofer received 8 letters of commendation during his short time with the Euless Police Department.
Officer Hofer’s mother, Sofija Hofer, told the New York Post he took the job in Euless, Texas, because he thought it would be safer than tough area he was working in.
“He was working this very difficult [Manhattan] precinct, so he had a lot of traumatic experiences… He decided to go to a safer place.”
She said her son was living his childhood dream of being a police officer.
“I thought he might be a scientist, like his father, but he always wanted to be a policeman, ever since he was a little boy. He was so brave. He tried to find humor even in the worst situations.”
DFW Scanner and Mesquite Scanner initiated a social media movement, #ForHofer, in honor of the fallen officer and all law enforcement. The organizations asked citizens to do a kind deed for any member of law enforcement and share them online.
https://www.facebook.com/DFWScanner/photos/a.176949038992633.37266.161908093830061/1104225626264965/?type=3
Followers are rising to the challenge and posting pictures and stories of their kind gestures on Facebook and Twitter with hashtag #ForHofer.
Our follower Brianna dropped these treats off at her local Farmers Branch PD station to show her support. #ForHofer pic.twitter.com/izDVixuDVa
— DFW Scanner (@DFWscanner) March 2, 2016
https://twitter.com/UrNoException/status/705243776642461697
https://twitter.com/colorfulbows/status/705078028519370753
Euless Mayor Linda Martin shared her sorrow over David Hofer’s death with the Star-Telegram.
“Euless is one big family. Honestly, I’m having trouble controlling my tears.”
[Photo by LM Otero/AP Images]
