(April 11, 2008)

ALICE--The officer shot in the aftermath of yesterday's bank robbery is now out of the hospital,.Two other officers injured in the pursuit are also back at home. There were two robbery suspects. One, you'll remember, was shot and killed. The other has already had his first day in court.

Alice police officials are releasing more information about this deadly bank robbery pursuit. This after officer Daniel Elizondo. The officer shot in the bank robbery talks to them. Commanders said he was justified in shooting the bank robber.

Police said Juan Villarreal robbed the Wells Fargo Bank with a rifle. While he was in the bank, his accomplice, John Eric Garcia waited in the brush off of Farm-to-Market Road 665. 

During the robbery, police said Villarreal stole a car from a bank employee. After officers started pursuing him.

"It appears deceased reversed his unit and struck our police car, Daniel Elizondo, trapping him in the police car," said Alice Police Chief Daniel Bueno. 

Elizondo said Villarreal then tried to kill him.

"Then he got off the suspect vehicle and approached the police vehicle with his rifle and shot at the police officer from about 15 yards," Chief Bueno said. 

Police said Elizondo was hit in the right leg. He put his finger on his wound and they said he fired back once, killing Villarreal.

"The officer was able with his rifle shoot at the suspect from the crack vehicle door that was unable to open because of the impact," said Chief Bueno. 

Police also said in the back of the second getaway car, Garcia was driving, he had molotov cocktails. They said he planned to use those in the getaway to distract authorities and start fires.

"A very dangerous situation (and) a very dangerous person that had no respect for law enfrocement or anyone else," Chief Bueno said. 

Garcia is in the jail being held on a $100,000 bond.