A 47-year-old woman has been charged with attempted capital murder over allegations that she helped a man fire at police during a pursuit in Johnson County, Texas.
Zora Bliss is accused of assisting Jason Stroud, 43, as he allegedly opened fire on pursuing Cleburne police officers on 24 August. The chase began in Cleburne, passed through Alvarado and ended near a Sam’s Club in Burleson.
Attempted capital murder charge follows police pursuit
According to an arrest-warrant affidavit, investigators allege Bliss played a part in the shooting under Texas’s “law of parties”, which can make someone criminally responsible for an offence carried out by another person if they assisted or encouraged it.
Police were initially responding at about 6.50pm to reports of a person with a firearm inside a vehicle. A pursuit followed when officers arrived, with the chase eventually reaching Interstate 35 and Burleson Boulevard.
Several shots were fired during the confrontation. Stroud was hit by return fire and died at the scene, while a Cleburne police officer was shot in the leg and taken to hospital. The officer has since been released and is recovering at home, according to a statement reported by local officials.
Bliss had already been held at Johnson County Jail on charges of aggravated assault against a public servant and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. Her combined bond has been set at $1.55 million.
Cleburne police chief Rob Severance praised the officers involved, particularly the injured officer, and said detectives and support staff had carried out “diligent work” during the investigation.
The Cleburne Police Department said its investigation into Bliss’s alleged involvement was complete. A separate investigation into the officer-involved shooting remains under way, led by the Texas Rangers.
