2024 Texas Department of Public Safety building truck attack

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2024 Texas Department of Public Safety building truck attack
LocationTexas Department of Public Safety office, Brenham, Texas
DateApril 12, 2024 (2024-04-12)
Attack type
 Vehicle-ramming attack
Weapon Semi-trailer truck
Deaths2
Injured12
MotiveDenial of commercial driver's licence (suspected)
AccusedClenard Parker

On April 12, 2024, a man crashed a stolen semi-trailer truck into a Texas Department of Public Safety office in Brenham, Texas, killing two people and injuring twelve others. [1] The suspect was arrested at the scene and named as 42-year-old Clenard Parker. [2]

Contents

Attack

On the morning of April 12, 2024, Parker allegedly stole a semi-trailer truck from a gas station in Chappell Hill and drove to Brenham, where he was pursued by deputies from the Washington County Sheriff's Office. [2] [3] At around 10:41 a.m., Parker allegedly took a sharp right turn into a Texas Department of Public Safety office and rammed the truck through its front entrance, resulting in one man's death and the injuring of thirteen others. [2] The truck then reversed from the crash site and appeared to be preparing to strike it again, however authorities at the scene were able to detain the driver. [4] Brenham Mayor Atwood Kenjura commented that, according to the fire chief, "if he had veered a little bit to the left the second time, there would have been a collapse of that building." [5] A second person died of her injuries later that month. [6]

Suspect

The suspect was identified as 42-year-old Clenard Parker, from Chappell Hill, Texas. Investigators discovered that Parker had visited the office the day before the attack, where he attempted to get his commercial driver's licence renewed, but was denied. According to a relative, Parker used to drive semi-trailer trucks. The relative further stated that Parker suffered delusions following a "traumatizing" car accident several years prior to the attack, recalling an incident where Parker believed former U.S. President Donald Trump had once visited his home, when Trump had, in fact, not. [3] Another relative said Parker was living alone in a trailer at the time of the attack, and also stated that Parker suffered from mental illness. [7] Parker has a criminal history of non-violent offences dating back to 1999, including criminal trespass, arson and a felony prohibited weapons charge. [7]

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References

  1. ↑ Lindner, Emmett; Jiménez, Jesus (April 12, 2024). "1 Killed and 13 Injured in 'Intentional' Truck Crash Into Building in Texas". The New York Times . Retrieved April 12, 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 Shay, Miya; Pearson, Lileana (2024-04-12). "1 dead, several injured after driver in stolen 18-wheeler crashes into TX DPS office in Brenham: DPS". ABC13 Houston. Retrieved 2024-04-15.
  3. 1 2 Jones, Luke (2024-04-13). "Man accused of crashing stolen 18-wheeler into TX DPS office was 'traumatized', family says". ABC13 Houston. Retrieved 2024-04-15.
  4. ↑ Coronado, Acacia (2024-04-12). "1 dead, 13 injured after stolen tractor-trailer crashes into public safety office". KEVN Black Hills FOX. Retrieved 2024-04-15.
  5. ↑ Rose, Andy; Smart, Sara (2024-04-12). "1 dead, several injured after 18-wheeler crashed into Texas Department of Public Safety office, driver arrested". CNN. Retrieved 2024-04-15.
  6. ↑ Rose, Andy (April 23, 2024). "Second victim dies after a stolen 18-wheeler crashed into a Texas driver's license office". CNN. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  7. 1 2 Flury, Jade; Wallace, Randy (2024-04-12). "1 dead, 13 injured after man crashed stolen 18-wheeler into Brenham Texas DPS office". FOX 26 Houston. Retrieved 2024-04-15.


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