A Jacksonville man with a felony record has been indicted on federal firearms charges following the shooting of a police officer, according to an announcement from U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs for the Eastern District of Texas.
Bobby Michael Dennis, 64, was charged in a two-count indictment by a federal grand jury for being a felon in possession of a firearm. The charges stem from an incident on November 2, 2025, when Dennis allegedly fired at a Jacksonville police officer using an AR-15-style rifle as she attempted to identify him due to several outstanding warrants. The officer was struck twice. After firing multiple rounds at the officer, her K9 unit, and her patrol vehicle, Dennis fled the scene.
The incident prompted area schools in Jacksonville to cancel classes for two days while law enforcement agencies conducted a search for Dennis. A search warrant executed at his residence led to the discovery of four more firearms. Authorities apprehended Dennis on November 5 during the execution of another search warrant at a bunker he had constructed near Cuney, where they recovered an additional firearm.
Dennis is barred from possessing firearms under federal law due to previous felony convictions: aggravated robbery in Smith County and aggravated assault and possession of a controlled substance in Pulaski County, Arkansas.
If convicted on these federal firearms charges, Dennis could face up to life imprisonment.
The investigation is being handled by multiple agencies including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; FBI; Homeland Security Investigations; Cherokee County District Attorney’s Office; Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office; Jacksonville Police Department; Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigations Division; and the Texas Rangers. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan Locker and Lucas Machicek are prosecuting the case.
"A grand jury indictment is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law," according to the release.
