Blue alert issued in Hall County, Texas for man suspected of injuring police officer

Texas authorities issued a Blue Alert early Friday morning, and a statewide manhunt has begun for a man suspected of injuring an officer, according to authorities.

Seth Altman, 33, who was last seen in Memphis, Texas, around 80 miles south of Amarillo, and is wanted in connection with the injury of a law enforcement officer.

Altman is “wanted for the involvement in the killing or serious injury of a law enforcement officer,” according to the Texas Department of Safety.

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Who is Seth Altman?

Altman is described as a white male, approximately 6 feet 2 inches tall and 220 pounds. He has blue eyes and red or auburn hair. He was last seen in the 200 block of South Fourth Street in Memphis around 11 p.m. Thursday, wearing a blue T-shirt and blue jeans.

He is considered to be armed and dangerous, reported News 4 San Antonio. If spotted, call 911 and do not approach him.

Altman allegedly shot police officer, reports state

Altman is believed to have shot a police officer Thursday night, reported to BNO News and CBS Austin.

The officer was shot multiple times and was flown to the hospital.

The officer’s condition is unknown, according to the news outlets.

What is a blue alert?

A blue alert is issued for people who are suspected of killing or seriously wounding local, state, or federal law enforcement officers, according to the Texas Department of Safety.

The Blue Alert Program was created in 2008 and is designed to ensure that suspects can be quickly apprehended.

The following criteria must be met before a Blue Alert can be issued under a person’s name, according to the department:

• A law enforcement officer must have been killed or seriously injured by an offender.
• Authorities must believe the suspect poses a serious risk or threat to the public and law enforcement personnel.
• A description of the suspect’s vehicle, vehicle tag, or partial tag must be available so it can be broadcast to the public.
• The investigating law enforcement agency must recommend activating the Blue Alert to the Texas Department of Public Safety.

This story is still developing and will be updated as more information is available.

Julia is a trending reporter for USA TODAY. You can connect with her on LinkedIn, follow her on X, formerly Twitter, Instagram and TikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at jgomez@gannett.com.