In a press conference today, Garland Police Department’s Public Information Officer Joe Harn outlined the sequence of the Sunday, May 3 shooting at the Curtis Culwell Center. Because of the type of the event and the guest speakers, security concerns were high which prompted the police department, Garland ISD and city officials to begin work on a security plan several months ago. Additional security, which included GISD security officers, uniformed police officers, bomb personnel, SWAT, the FBI and the ATF, were added.
Harn said that a dark sedan pulled up to the west driveway entrance which was blocked by a police car. Bruce Joiner, an unarmed GISD security officer and an unnamed GPD officer were in the police car. When the sedan pulled up and stopped, the officers began to exit their vehicle and two men exited the dark sedan, both carrying assault rifles. The men with the rifles went around the back of their car and began shooting at the police car.
Joiner was struck in the ankle by a bullet. The police officer, a tenured officer in the traffic unit, returned fire with his service pistol only and shot and killed both men. Other officers heard the gunfire and a SWAT team stationed at the back of the building secured the scene within seconds.
“He [the police officer] did what he was trained to do and under the fire that he was put under, he did a very good job,” Harn said. “He probably saved lives…We think their strategy was to get into the event center and they were not able to get past our perimeter that we had set up…Because of the way we were set up, we were able to stop those men before they were able to penetrate the area and attempt to shoot anyone else.”
Harn added that the gunmen were wearing some type of body protection.
According to Harn, it was not known whether the gunmen had rigged themselves or the vehicle with explosives so GPD set up a wide evacuation perimeter that included some surrounding businesses.
Once the evacuations were complete, the bomb unit began to work the vehicle. The team detonated several items that they felt were suspicious, but no bombs were found in the vehicle. There was, however, additional ammunition.
There was luggage in the car and it is believed that the gunmen drove from their home in Phoenix, Arizona to Garland. GPD has not disclosed the gunmen’s names or where they lived, but several news outlets have identified them as Elton Simpson and Nadir Soofi. Simpson was convicted of lying in a terror investigation several years ago.
The FBI has searched the gunmen’s Phoenix apartment and talked to their neighbors to gather information.
Harn told members of the media that they collect intelligence every day in an effort to keep the city safe. He said that there had not been any specific threats before the shooting.
“The concern yesterday, and today, and every day that we work here, is the safety of everybody in this city, visiting and the folks that live here.”
Members of the community had expressed concern about the controversial event being held at the event center and had addressed both the City Council and GISD board of trustees to share their objections.
Chris Moore, director of communications at GISD said that every aspect of the rental agreement will be reviewed.
He added that he was grateful that Bruce Joiner was not seriously hurt in the shooting.
“It’s extremely unfortunate…It’s concerning…It was one of our security officers,” Moore said. “It hits home from a GISD family perspective.”
Moore said that the district has not received any cancellation requests from outside districts whose graduation ceremonies are scheduled at the Curtis Culwell Center.
Garland police officer credited with saving lives; GISD officials to review event center rental policy
