Trooper Zachary Mills recovering in a Longview hospital. Photo from Shelly Spivey Mills' Facebook page.

The suspect involved in the auto theft, pursuit, trooper-involved fatal shooting incident Sunday evening near FM 139 in the Lout Town area, has been identified.

According to DPS, the individual was 38-year old Jonathan Swindle of Shelbyville. He reportedly took a pickup unauthorized from a residence in the Shelbyville area on CR 2420, which lead to the chase. The result was DPS Trooper Zachary Mills being struck by the vehicle, and ultimately lead to Swindle being shot to death by an unidentified trooper and a Center Police Department officer.

The multi-agency pursuit along and around State Hwy. 87 ended when the suspect, after having already driven over a set of throw-down spikes, avoided a second set placed by Trooper Mills, going off the roadway into the bar ditch striking Trooper Mills, before being forced into a pasture by a Center PD unit, where he was mortally wounded.

An autopsy was ordered, and Swindle’s body taken to Beaumont. Funeral Service for Jonathan Swindle is pending at Community Funeral Home.

Trooper Mills was life-flighted to Good Shepherd Medical Center in Longview where he continues to recover from a broken leg.

Jonathan Swindle

The investigation continues by the Texas Rangers and DPS.