Mark Alan Wilson

Mark Alan Wilson (January 20, 1953 – February 24, 2005) 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.

Biography

Mark Wilson was born and raised in Dallas, Texas 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.^[1]

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