Texas police kill gunman after shootout, bus chase

April 20 (UPI) -- Texas police say they fatally shot an armed man after he shot two officers and hijacked a bus before leading officers on a chase through several cities.

The suspect, 31-year-old Ramon Thomas Villagomez, who was killed during the gunfight, was wanted in San Antonio in connection to the death of his girlfriend and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

Police said they were alerted to the hijacking of the Dallas Area Rapid Transit bus in Richardson, Texas, on Sunday. Garland Police Department spokesman Pedro Barineau said officers were inforned of an armed man holding the bus driver hostage.

DART officers attempted to have the suspect pull over but he began shooting at police, striking one in the leg, the department said.

The ensuing chase spanned through Dallas, Richardson, Garland and Rockwall and officials said he fired numerous shots. One round pierced the windshield of a cruiser and struck an officer in the neck.

The chase stopped in Rowlett, where officers deployed spike strips along the highway.

"The gunman exited the bus and shots were continuing to be fired and he was struck by our officers," Barineau told reporters.

Villagomez died at a local hospital. Investigators are trying to determine a motive.

"We were very fortunate," Barineau said. "As of now, we have not received any reports that anyone else was injured."

The shooting occurred less than a day after a police officer was killed and two others were critically injured during a shooting in San Marcos, Texas.