Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

DALLAS — A multi-convicted felon, Tracy Norman Hanson, 51, of Kaufman County, who was arrested after his involvement in a shootout with law enforcement officers in Van Zandt County, Texas, in January 2015, and who pleaded guilty in August 2015 to two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Sam A. Lindsay to serve the statutory maximum sentence of 240 months in federal prison. U.S. Attorney John Parker of the Northern District of Texas made the announcement today.

According to documents filed in the case and statements made on the record at his sentencing hearing yesterday, on September 23, 2015, Hanson, a multi-convicted felon on parole for serious felonies, possessed a Ruger .44 magnum caliber revolver that was recovered by deputies with the Kaufman County Sheriff’s Office.  This firearm, alleged in Count One of the indictment, was one of five firearms stolen from a residence in Kaufman County, Texas, and the burglar had sold that firearm to Hanson.  State arrest warrants were then issued for Hanson.

On January 16, 2015, two law enforcement officers who were searching for Hanson spotted him hiding at a mobile home park in Kaufman County.  As they waited for backup officers to arrive, Hanson departed the location as the front-seat passenger in a pickup truck.  The officers attempted to stop the pickup, but a high-speed chase—with speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour—ensued along two-lane county roads and graveled lanes.  During the course of the police chase, the pickup nearly collided with another vehicle, and it dangerously blazed past a school bus carrying 28 children.

The pickup truck eventually turned into Van Zandt County, where it experienced mechanical failure and came to a stop in a road-side ditch.  The law enforcement officers had followed the pickup, but encountered gunfire from Hanson and the pickup’s driver—both armed with pistols—as they turned onto the road.  Multiple shots were fired at the officers just as the school bus that they had blazed past crossed the intersection behind the officers.  The officers, fearing for their lives, exited their vehicle with service weapons in hand and returned fire.  The pickup’s driver was shot and killed in the gun battle, and the pickup’s backseat passenger was also shot.  Hanson, for his part, experienced a weapon malfunction, tossed his pistol and surrendered.  The officers arrested Hanson and recovered a stolen Bersa .380 caliber pistol that Hanson had fired at them.  This firearm is alleged in Count Two of the indictment.  Hanson is also facing charges in Van Zandt County for assault of a public servant with a dangerous weapon.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Kaufman County Sheriff’s Office and the Texas Rangers investigated.

Deputy Criminal Chief Assistant U.S. Attorney Gary Tromblay prosecuted the case.

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