Arlington officer shot while trying to arrest murder suspect near UTA campus

An Arlington police officer is out of the hospital after being shot while trying to arrest a college student wanted for the murder of a Saginaw teenager.

The shooting happened late Monday night at an apartment complex in the 400 block of Summit Avenue, near the University of Texas at Arlington campus.

Officer Edward Johnston was part of a team that included officers from the Fort Worth suburb of Saginaw. They were trying to arrest 23-year-old Joel McCommon for the weekend murder of 17-year-old Jordan Miles.

Police said McCommon opened the door and began firing at the officers. They returned fire and wounded him.

“The suspect began firing at our officers and our officer was struck. But he was able to return fire on the suspect. And I am happy to report I just got an update on the officer and he’s in good spirits and good condition,” said Sgt. Vannessa Harrison with the Arlington Police Department.

Police said McCommon is also expected to be okay. He is in custody at a local hospital. He is the lone suspect in Miles’ death.

Jordan was a senior at Saginaw High School and would have celebrated his 18thbirthday on Tuesday. His family also said he was preparing to graduate and had plans to study engineering in college.

Norman Miles says it's still unclear to them why McCommon allegedly shot his nephew just days before his 18th birthday. But they're grateful to police who put their lives on the line so a life isn't lost in vain.

"Thank God [Johnston] is going to be ok because that was not the possibility that I had thought  through." said Norman. "If there is any gift to be given in honoring Jordan and his life, this was it."