Two police officers have been shot dead while responding to reports of a domestic assault in southern Texas. 

Edelmiro Garza, 45, and Ismael Chavez, 39, were shot on the doorstep of a home in McAllen on Saturday afternoon.

The suspect later killed himself.

McAllen police chief Victor Rodriguez, who identified the officers, said they “never had a chance” to defend themselves.

Mr Garza and Mr Chavez were responding to a report from two people who said assaults had taken place inside a nearby home at around 3.30pm.

The alleged gunman, who was identified by police as Audon Ignacio Camarillo, 23, opened fire as the officers attempted to enter the home, the police chief said.

“They were doing their job. That is what they were supposed to do. The person was a suspect of the incident, met our officers at the door, and shot at both officers,” a visibly distraught Mr Rodriguez told The [McAllen] Monitor.

“Both officers suffered fatal wounds, they have both passed away as a result. The officers never had a chance to suspect deadly assault on them, much less death.”

He added: “We have lost two brave public servants who sought only to keep peace in our city.”

Fellow police officers only learned of their colleagues’ deaths when they arrived at the scene moments later.

The suspect hid behind a vehicle as the other officers approached, before turning the gun on himself.

Camarillo had a number of previous run-ins with police, including an arrest last month on assault charges, according to public records.

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