JACKSONVILLE, Texas — The man accused of shooting a Jacksonville police officer in early November and setting off a statewide Blue Alert has been charged with federal firearms violations.
Bobby Michael Dennis, 64, is accused of shooting Jacksonville police officer Elyse Hand while she was attempting to serve a warrant on the night of Nov. 2. He ran from the scene, but he was found three days later near Cuney on Nov. 5, police said.
According to a news release from the FBI Dallas Division shared on Nov. 14, Dennis is charged with felon in possession of a firearm and while being convicted of a crime of domestic violence in the Eastern District of Texas.
Police say he used an AR-15-style rifle to shoot Hand twice. The shooting led to a manhunt and classes being canceled for Jacksonville ISD campuses for two days. According to the FBI, officers found four additional firearms at Dennis’ home and another firearm was found in the “bunker.”
According to the news release, Dennis is not allowed to have a firearm under federal law because he is a three-time convicted felon, with previous convictions for aggravated robbery in Smith County and aggravated assault and possession of a controlled substance in Pulaski County, Arkansas.
If convicted of these federal charges, he faces up to life in prison.
Dennis is already charged with:
Attempted capital murder of a peace officer
Interference with police service animal
Two counts of obstruction or retaliation (previous warrant)
During his arraignment hearing, Dennis could be heard repeatedly saying that, “all judges have been dissolved under President Donald Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi” and this is an illegal government. He also made claims of being an American Indian.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the FBI; Homeland Security Investigations; Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office; Jacksonville Police Department; Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigations Division; and the Texas Rangers are investigating the case.
The case is being prosecuted in federal court by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan Locker and Lucas Machicek
