KAUFMAN COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

April 9, 2013

The following is a release from the Kaufman County Sheriffs Office regarding the multiple reports of a shooting or shootings in the community of Combine on April 9. It has been reported/circulated via various social media sites and news agencies that there was a drive-by shooting in the community of Combine, in Kaufman County, at a county officials residence. It has also been reported that a county official had been shot in Combine, and that a sheriffs deputy had been shot. None of these reports are true. There has been no shooting and all county officials are accounted for. A report of a single gunshot being heard on FM 1389 in Combine was investigated by law enforcement officers in Combine this afternoon. The shot was reported at 1:01 p.m. Combine Police Department was on-scene less than one minute later along with other law enforcement officers. There is nothing to indicate that a gun was fired other than the caller who was reporting that they heard what sounded like a gunshot and saw a vehicle driving down the road in the area. Officers who arrived at the location found no evidence and did not see the vehicle. Another officer who was in the area on unrelated business at the time that the shot was reportedly heard did not hear a gunshot. Officers spoke with the reporting person and cleared the scene a short time later. Crandall schools were initially placed into full lockdown status as a precaution, but that has since been lifted and the Crandall Police Department reported to Kaufman County Sheriffs Office communications officers that the schools would be in soft lockdown until school was released for the day. Daily law enforcement activities occur in the county simultaneously with the joint investigation of the murders of Mike and Cynthia McLelland and Mark Hasse. Other incidents will be reported and investigated that have no connection to the murder investigation. Gunshots are reported in the rural areas of the county on a very regular basis and are not uncommon. Any person who sees or hears something that they feel is suspicious should call 9-1-1 and report it.

Kaufman County Sheriffs Office 1900 East Highway 175 Kaufman, Texas 75142 (972) 932 -4337