Houston Sheriff’s Deputy Fatally Shot in the Back at Gas Station (UPDATE: Suspect Caught)
A Houston sheriff’s deputy was shot and killed while filling up his car at a gas station last night. Deputy Darren Goforth was pumping gas after responding to a call about a car accident, when a man walked up to him and, without saying a word, shot at him multiple times in the back.
The Harris County Sheriff’s Office tweeted out the tragic news and shared information about the suspect as a manhunt was going on:
URGENT: Help locate dark complected male, 5'10 – 6 ft, white t-shirt and red shorts in a maroon or red fleet side extended cab Ford Ranger.
— HCSOTexas (@HCSOTexas) August 29, 2015
Tonight we lost one of our brothers. This is an extremely difficult time right now for the Harris County Sheriff's Office. #ThinBlueLine
— HCSOTexas (@HCSOTexas) August 29, 2015
We ask that you continue to give us your prayers and thoughts. Continue praying for this deputy's family. #ThinBlueLine #HouNews
— HCSOTexas (@HCSOTexas) August 29, 2015
We awoke this morning hoping it was all a bad dream. Our hearts are full of grief. Thank you for prayers. EOW 8/28/15 pic.twitter.com/sGdTyLU1J4
— HCSOTexas (@HCSOTexas) August 29, 2015
They also released an image from a surveillance video of the suspect:
Late last night Sheriff Ron Hickman described the shooting as an “unprovoked execution-style killing” and said it’s possible Goforth was targeted just because he was in law enforcement.
ABC 13 is reporting that there is a person of interest in custody and was being questioned early today.
Update- 2:35 pm EDT: Hickman held a brief presser this afternoon in which he railed against dangerous anti-cop rhetoric and said, “We’ve heard black lives matter, all lives matter, well, cops’ lives matter too. So why don’t we drop the qualifier and just say ‘lives matter’ and take that to the bank?”
Update- 4:53 pm EDT: Authorities have arrested a suspect for killing Goforth.
Update- 5:35 pm EDT: The suspect has been identified as Shannon J Miles
Harris County Sheriff says Shannon J Miles charged with capital murder in gas station shooting death of HCSO deputy. pic.twitter.com/MUp1mr5QiU
— Vanessa Holmes NBC (@Vanessa12News) August 29, 2015
Watch KXAN’s initial report here:
[h/t ABC News]
[images via Harris County Sheriff’s Office]
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