Advertisement

Houston Deputy ambushed, killed at gas station; no one in custody

 
Officials investigate the scene at a gas station where a sheriff's deputy in uniform was fatally shot Friday in Houston. Harris County Sheriff's Office spokesman Ryan Sullivan said the deputy was pumping gas into his vehicle on Friday night when a man approached him from behind and fired multiple shots. [Karen Warren | Houston Chronicle via AP]
Officials investigate the scene at a gas station where a sheriff's deputy in uniform was fatally shot Friday in Houston. Harris County Sheriff's Office spokesman Ryan Sullivan said the deputy was pumping gas into his vehicle on Friday night when a man approached him from behind and fired multiple shots. [Karen Warren | Houston Chronicle via AP]
Published Aug. 29, 2015

HOUSTON — Authorities are still pursuing a 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, they said Saturday afternoon during a strongly worded news conference.

Deputy Darren Goforth, 47, was pumping gas about 8:30 p.m. Friday when a man approached him from behind and fired multiple shots. Harris County Sheriff Ron Hickman said that surveillance video shows there were people at the gas station and asked that they reach out with any information that could lead to the man who ambushed Goforth.

Hickman and District Attorney Devon Anderson both said the ambush was unsettling, especially given the recent climate of tension between civilians and law enforcement.

"We've heard black lives matter, all lives matter. Well, cops' lives matter, too," Hickman said.

Anderson said that there are bad individuals in every field, but that "there should not be open warfare on law enforcement officers."

Earlier Saturday, Harris County Sheriff's Office spokesman Deputy Thomas Gilliland said officials were questioning a person of interest and had a search warrant for a two-story brick home. Hickman said authorities were looking at a pickup truck at the house, which is about a quarter-mile from the gas station, due to the description of the suspect driving a red or maroon truck with an extended cab.

Police have described the suspect as a male with a dark complexion, about 5-foot-10 to 6 feet tall, wearing a white T-shirt and red shorts. Authorities did not say what race they believe him to be.

Goforth was a 10-year veteran of the force, had a wife and two children, Hickman said. As for a motive, Hickman said that until anything is known with "certainty ... it's all speculation."

An impromptu memorial sprouted at the Chevron gas station pump that Goforth used Friday night, with a pile of balloons, flowers, candles and notes, including one that said, "Gone but never forgotten R.I.P. Deputy Goforth." The gas station in Copperfield, a middle-class to upper middle-class area of Harris County that is unincorporated, 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."

Keep up with Tampa Bay’s top headlines

Subscribe to our free DayStarter newsletter

We’ll deliver the latest news and information you need to know every morning.

You’re all signed up!

Want more of our free, weekly newsletters in your inbox? Let’s get started.

Explore all your options

Detectives were checking security camera video for possible clues.

The search for the suspect includes Harris County sheriff's deputies and homicide investigators and officers from the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Houston Police Department.

"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 Organization, said the incident was "shocking."

"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."

Gov. Greg Abbott released a statement Saturday that said "heinous and deliberate crimes against law enforcement will not be tolerated" and that the state "reveres the men and women in law enforcement who put their lives on the line every day to protect and serve their communities."

THE LATEST: Here are the latest developments regarding the fatal shooting of a suburban Houston sheriff's deputy (all times local):

1:25 p.m.

Gov. Greg Abbott says "heinous and deliberate crimes against law enforcement will not be tolerated in the State of Texas."

Abbott released a statement Saturday afternoon in response to the death of Harris County Sheriff's Deputy Darren Goforth at a suburban Houston gas station.

Goforth was in his uniform when a man approached him from behind and fired multiple shots Friday night as the deputy filled up his patrol car. No arrests have been made.

The governor says, "Texas reveres the men and women in law enforcement who put their lives on the line every day to protect and serve their communities."

He added that he knows local law enforcement "will work tirelessly to apprehend the killer and ensure justice for Deputy Goforth is served."

———

1:20 p.m.

Harris County Sheriff Ron Hickman says authorities will "follow the evidence to the logical and legal conclusion" in the fatal shooting of one of the office's deputies.

Hickman also said that the "dangerous rhetoric" against law enforcement has "gotten out of control."

He also said the house that is being searched near the gas station where Deputy Darren Goforth was ambushed and shot Friday night is connected through the truck. Officials were looking for a red or maroon pickup truck.

Hickman said it is "all speculation" regarding a motive.

He also said, "We've heard black lives matter, all lives matter. Well, cops' lives matter, too."

———

1:15 p.m.

Harris County Sheriff Ron Hickman says that authorities are still looking for the suspect in the fatal shooting of a deputy at a gas station.

Hickman said at a Saturday afternoon news conference that surveillance video showed there were people at the gas station in suburban Houston about 8:30 p.m. Friday when Deputy Darren Goforth was ambushed by a man and shot several times. He asked that they reach out to the sheriff's office with any information.

District Attorney Devon Anderson had strong words at the news conference, saying it is "time for the silent majority in the country to support law enforcement" and that there should not be "open warfare on law enforcement officers."

Authorities said the investigation is ongoing.

———

12:00 p.m.

Authorities say the man they are speaking with in connection with the fatal shooting of a Harris County sheriff's deputy is a person of interest.

Sheriff's office spokesman Deputy Thomas Gilliland said no one has been charged. A news conference is scheduled for Saturday afternoon.

Gilliland also said authorities are searching a home that's about a quarter-mile away from the suburban Houston gas station where Deputy Darren Goforth was shot and killed on Friday night.

———

10:45 a.m.

Authorities are searching a home in connection with the fatal shooting of a Harris County sheriff's deputy at a gas station about a quarter-mile away.

Sheriff's office spokesman Deputy Thomas Gilliland says that the person authorities are speaking with about the shooting lives at that home. He also said they have obtained a search warrant and have been looking inside the home.

Nine patrol cars, including one that has the words "crime scene unit" on the side of the vehicle, are parked near the two-story brick home.

No arrests have been made in the death of Deputy Darren Goforth, who was ambushed and shot several times at a gas station in suburban Houston at about 8:30 p.m. Friday.

———

10:20 a.m.

An impromptu memorial of balloons, flowers, candles and notes has begun at the gas pump where Harris County Deputy Darren Goforth was shot and killed.

The Chevron gas station is in Cypress, a middle-class to upper middle-class suburban area of Harris County that is unincorporated and located northwest of Houston. It is open for business, though the pump where Goforth was shot about 8:30 p.m. Friday is closed.

Sheriff's office spokesman Deputy Thomas Gilliland says police are speaking with someone who has information about the shooting but he is not under arrest, nor is he a suspect or a person of interest.

Brian McCullar says he got to know Goforth during the deputy's patrols in the neighborhood and says he was "passionate about what he did."

The 49-year-old says Goforth's death is a "huge loss for this area."

———

8:40 a.m.

Authorities say they are speaking with a person who has information about the fatal shooting of a Harris County sheriff's deputy.

Sheriff's office spokesman Deputy Thomas Gilliland said the person is not under arrest, nor is he a suspect or a person of interest.

No one has been charged and the search continues for the suspect.

Police say Deputy Darren Goforth was pumping gas about 8:30 p.m. Friday at a suburban Houston gas station when a man approached him from behind and fired several shots. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The male suspect is described between 20 and 25 years old and about 5-foot-10 to 6 feet tall, was wearing red shorts and a white T-shirt and driving a red or maroon pickup truck.