Mark Allen Wilson
Encyclopedia
Mark Alan Wilson was a Tyler, Texas
man killed during a shooting outside the Smith County Courthouse
in Tyler, Texas. He entered an ongoing gun battle between David Hernandez Arroyo Sr., who had attempted earlier to kill his wife and son, and law enforcement officers. Wilson was killed at close quarters by Arroyo, who was wearing body armor, after shooting and hitting Arroyo several times. Wilson had no affiliations, professional or otherwise, with law enforcement, and acted solely as a private citizen during the shootout. Arroyo was later killed by gunfire from police officers.
and graduated from MacArthur High School in 1971. He went on to serve with distinction in the U.S. Navy
. After his discharge from the military, he worked as a racquetball
instructor and later opened Tyler's On Target Shooting Range in 1997. He volunteered in the community by helping to raise money for nonprofit organizations and devoting time to organizations like the Texas Blues
Festival and Festival on the Square. Wilson lived in an apartment that overlooked the area where the shooting took place.
In recognition of his heroism, the Texas State Rifle Association published an account of his actions. The Texas House unanimously adopted a resolution (HR. 740) on March 31, 2005 to honor Mark Wilson.
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
man killed during a shooting outside the Smith County Courthouse
Tyler courthouse shooting
The Tyler courthouse shooting refers to a February 24, 2005 shootout in which David Hernandez Arroyo Sr. opened fire on his ex-wife and son in front of the Smith County Courthouse in Tyler, Texas, then engaged police and court officers in a shootout...
in Tyler, Texas. He entered an ongoing gun battle between David Hernandez Arroyo Sr., who had attempted earlier to kill his wife and son, and law enforcement officers. Wilson was killed at close quarters by Arroyo, who was wearing body armor, after shooting and hitting Arroyo several times. Wilson had no affiliations, professional or otherwise, with law enforcement, and acted solely as a private citizen during the shootout. Arroyo was later killed by gunfire from police officers.
Biography
Mark Wilson was born and raised in Dallas, TexasTexas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
and graduated from MacArthur High School in 1971. He went on to serve with distinction in the U.S. Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
. After his discharge from the military, he worked as a racquetball
Racquetball
For other sports often called "paddleball", see Paddleball .Racquetball is a racquet sport played with a hollow rubber ball in an indoor or outdoor court...
instructor and later opened Tyler's On Target Shooting Range in 1997. He volunteered in the community by helping to raise money for nonprofit organizations and devoting time to organizations like the Texas Blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
Festival and Festival on the Square. Wilson lived in an apartment that overlooked the area where the shooting took place.
In recognition of his heroism, the Texas State Rifle Association published an account of his actions. The Texas House unanimously adopted a resolution (HR. 740) on March 31, 2005 to honor Mark Wilson.