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Manhunt continues after sheriff's deputy shot dead in Houston Police obtain search warrant after sheriff's deputy shot dead in Houston
(about 1 hour later)
A sheriff’s deputy in uniform died after he was shot multiple times from behind while filling up his patrol car at a suburban Houston gas station on Friday. A manhunt for the suspect continued on Saturday morning, authorities said. The search for the suspect in the death of a uniformed sheriff’s deputy who was shot several times while filling up his patrol car at a suburban Houston gas station continued Saturday, authorities said.
Deputy Darren Goforth, 47, was pumping gas into his vehicle at about 8.30pm on Friday when a man approached him from behind and fired multiple shots, Harris County sheriff’s office spokesman Ryan Sullivan said. Once the deputy fell to the ground, the suspect fired more shots. Deputy Darren Goforth, 47, was pumping gas about 8.30pm Friday when a man approached him from behind and fired multiple shots, Harris County sheriff’s office spokesman Ryan Sullivan told the Associated Press.
Police described the suspect as a dark-complexioned male believed to be between 20 and 25 years old, and about 5ft 10in to 6ft. He was wearing a white t-shirt and red shorts and driving a red or maroon pickup-style truck with an extended cab. Police were speaking with a person who has information about the shooting and obtained a search warrant for the two-story brick home where the person lives, Harris County sheriff’s office spokesman Deputy Thomas Gilliland said. No arrests have been made, Gilliland said, and the man is not a suspect or person of interest. Nine patrol cars, including one with the words “crime scene unit” on the side of the vehicle, were parked near the home, which is about a quarter-mile from the gas station in Copperfield, a middle-class to upper-middle-class area of Harris County that is unincorporated.
Police said an intensive search for the suspect was ongoing on Saturday morning. Sheriff’s office spokesman Thomas Gilliland said police were speaking with a person who had information. The person was not under arrest, nor was he a suspect or a person of interest. The search for the suspect, whom police have described as between 20 and 25 years old and about 5ft10in to 6ft tall, is ongoing. He was wearing a white T-shirt and red shorts and driving a red or maroon pickup-style truck with an extended cab.
No motive had been determined for the shooting. Harris County sheriff Ron Hickman said Goforth, a 10-year veteran of the force, had a wife and two children. Goforth was a 10-year veteran of the force and had a wife and two children, according to Harris County Sheriff Ron Hickman.
“In my 45 years in law enforcement, I can’t recall another incident so cold-blooded and cowardly,” Hickman said. “In my 45 years in law enforcement, I can’t recall another incident so cold-blooded and cowardly,” Hickman said, who added no motive had been determined.
Gilliland said Goforth had traveled to the Chevron station after responding to a routine car accident. An impromptu memorial had begun Saturday morning at the Chevron station pump that Goforth was using on Friday night, a pile of balloons, flowers, candles and notes, including one that said, “Gone but never forgotten R.I.P. Deputy Goforth”. The gas station was open, but that pump was closed.
Brian McCullar knew Goforth because the deputy had patrolled his neighborhood, which is about two miles from the gas station, and spoke often. “He was passionate about what he did,” the 49-year-old said, adding: “We’re still in shock ... It’s a huge loss for his family. It’s a huge loss for this area.
“You’re talking about a guy that made a difference.”
Goforth had traveled to the Chevron station after responding to a routine car accident, Gilliland said.
“He was pumping gas into his vehicle and the male suspect came up behind him and shot the deputy multiple times,” Gilliland told the Houston Chronicle. “The deputy fell to ground. The suspect came over and shot the deputy again multiple times as he lay on the ground.”“He was pumping gas into his vehicle and the male suspect came up behind him and shot the deputy multiple times,” Gilliland told the Houston Chronicle. “The deputy fell to ground. The suspect came over and shot the deputy again multiple times as he lay on the ground.”
He said Goforth died at the scene. Detectives were checking security camera video for possible clues. Detectives were checking security camera video for possible clues.
“We are actively searching for suspect right now,” Gilliland said. “I can tell you with diligence and justice the suspect will be caught. And he will be brought to justice … This is a very callous individual.” “I can tell you: with diligence and justice, the suspect will be caught,” Gilliland told the newspaper. “And he will be brought to justice ... This is a very callous individual.”
Harris County sheriff’s deputies and homicide investigators joined officers from other agencies, including the Texas department of public safety and the Houston police department, in searching for the suspect. Harris County sheriff’s deputies and homicide investigators joined officers from other agencies, including the Texas department of public safety and the Houston police department, in the search.
“This is a very tough moment right now for the Harris County sheriff’s office,” Gilliland said. “Keep us in your prayers and in your thoughts.” “This is a very tough moment right now for the Harris County sheriff’s Office,” Gilliland said. “Keep us in your prayers and in your thoughts.”
Bob Goerlitz, president of the Harris County Deputies Organisation, said the incident was “shocking”. Bob Goerlitz, president of the Harris County Deputies’ Organization, said the incident was “shocking.”
“We’ve been warned of things like this,” he said, “because of public sentiment nationally and events over the last few years. “We’ve been warned of things like this, because of public sentiment nationally and events over the last few years ... It’s just horrific. That’s the only way to describe it.”
“It’s just horrific. That’s the only way to describe it.”