topic Re: Texas deputy killed in Community Chat

Texas deputy killed

MorningLover — Sun, 03 Apr 2022 13:31:24 GMT

Grocery shopping turns fatal after off-duty officer killed in front of wife

An off-duty Texas deputy sheriff has been killed in a shooting on the northern outskirts of Houston when he interrupted three men apparently trying to steal the catalytic converter from his vehicle, authorities said.

Deputy Darren Almendarez, 51, was fatally shot Thursday night in a grocery store parking lot, according to Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez.

Deputy Almendarez was shopping in the grocery store with his wife to prepare for his sister's birthday celebration which was planned for Friday.

Her actual birthday was Thursday, the day he was shot and killed.

"He was cleaning up the house. He was very happy. He was working tirelessly today to get preparations for the party," said Sheriff Gonzalez.

Deputy Almendarez and his wife were walking to their car from the store when he saw two men under his truck allegedly attempting to steal the vehicle's catalytic converter, authorities said.

Almendarez told his wife to run. As he approached his truck the suspects began firing at him, according to Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez. Almendarez returned gunfire, striking two of the suspects, before they fled the parking lot in a car.

The deputy was transported to a local hospital in critical condition, where he was pronounced dead from his gunshot wounds. Almendarez's wife was not injured.

The two suspects wounded in the exchange showed up at the same hospital in the suspect's vehicle later that night in stable condition, authorities said.

The suspects -- Joshua Stewart, 23, and Fredarius Clark, 19 -- have been charged with capital murder in the shooting death of Almendarez, authorities said Friday.

A third suspect sought in the incident, 17-year-old Fredrick Tardy, was arrested and charged with capital murder.

Almendarez was a 23-year veteran of the agency and had served in the automobile theft unit for the past year, Gonzalez said.

"Heartbreaking," the sheriff said after the deputy was identified.

Almendarez "loved being a deputy" and was an "outstanding member" of the agency.

"A remarkable man and public servant. Humble beginnings, grew up in Second Ward and played sports at Settegast Park," Gonzalez said on social media.

"From his first job as a teen at Whataburger on Harrisburg to fulfilling his goal of being a cop."

Re: Texas deputy killed

Porcelain — Sun, 03 Apr 2022 00:38:25 GMT

Gunfights are more and more common in Texas. It's very sad. And it will only get worse. Nothing can be done about it.

Re: Texas deputy killed

OneHappyHiker — Sun, 03 Apr 2022 00:45:05 GMT

@MorningLover Thank you for posting this and a picture. This is so very heartbreaking and sadly becoming more and more common each day. All of this violence will stop once (if) people value life more than the reason they decided to kill another human being. Gun violence, stabbings, running over people with vehicles all contribute to these deaths. Nightly news is becoming more like reading the local obituary than actual news. I don't know what has happened to morality. It's so very sad.

Re: Texas deputy killed

mamaslittlepotato — Sun, 03 Apr 2022 00:46:21 GMT

So sad 🥲

Re: Texas deputy killed

Kachina624 — Sun, 03 Apr 2022 00:52:11 GMT

We have a guy who posted on our NextDoor app, that he went into a supermarket for about 20 minutes. When he returned to his car, the catalytic converter had been stolen. They are a hot commodity nowadays containing valuable metals worth about $300.

My husband was a Harris County Deputy Sheriff.

Re: Texas deputy killed

Snowpuppy — Sun, 03 Apr 2022 00:56:17 GMT

Sign of the economy. Was common when I lived in Detroit and the economy went south in 08-09.

Without providing details, some converters worth more than others at the junk yard.

Re: Texas deputy killed

phoenixbrd — Sun, 03 Apr 2022 01:58:12 GMT

Yes, this will get worse until something is done about it.. So tragic for this family and our country.

Re: Texas deputy killed

Marp — Sun, 03 Apr 2022 02:13:51 GMT

@Porcelain wrote:
Gunfights are more and more common in Texas. It's very sad. And it will only get worse. Nothing can be done about it.

@Porcelain, more accurately nothing will be done about it.

Re: Texas deputy killed

Sooner — Sun, 03 Apr 2022 02:28:41 GMT

Crooks, criminals and low-lifes who are not in jail are the problem.

Re: Texas deputy killed

SharkE — Sun, 03 Apr 2022 02:37:26 GMT

They would have gotten out in 30 minutes probably still will.

Re: Texas deputy killed

Kachina624 — Sun, 03 Apr 2022 15:54:55 GMT

@SharkE wrote:
They would have gotten out in 30 minutes probably still will.

@SharkE Not if they're charged with capital murder. That is potentially a death penalty offense. You know how they love those in Texas.

Re: Texas deputy killed

hckynutjohn — Sun, 03 Apr 2022 16:09:54 GMT

@Porcelain wrote:
Gunfights are more and more common in Texas. It's very sad. And it will only get worse. Nothing can be done about it.

@Porcelain

Guess you haven't noticed the states that have the highest, using your word "gunfights. It is not Texas.

In this Texas incident it was an Off-duty Deputy. He confronted thief's trying to steal a catalytic converter. That doesn't fall into my category of a "gunfight".

Nothing can be done? I can think of several things that can be done to those that break the law, but will it? Doesn't appear so in certain states, especially where the perpetrators, are also considered being the victims.

hckynut 🇺🇸

Re: Texas deputy killed

Kachina624 — Sun, 03 Apr 2022 16:15:15 GMT

@hckynutjohn If they fired at him and he fired at them (wounding 2), I'd call that a gunfight. Its a wonder no bystander was Injured.

Re: Texas deputy killed

hckynutjohn — Sun, 03 Apr 2022 16:35:13 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:
@hckynutjohn If they fired at him and he fired at them (wounding 2), I'd call that a gunfight. Its a wonder no bystander was Injured.

@Kachina624

It's a gunfight. As for bystanders? The article I read didn't go into detail as to bystanders. It was a short synopsis of the event.

hckynut 🇺🇸

Re: Texas deputy killed

Kachina624 — Sun, 03 Apr 2022 18:22:09 GMT

@hckynutjohn It took place in a grocery store parking lot.

Re: Texas deputy killed

Sooner — Sun, 03 Apr 2022 19:01:19 GMT

People shooting at each other is a gunfight.

People committing a crime and shooting at the victim of the crime, it's self defence.

People shooting at cops and cops firing back, that's suicide by cop.

Re: Texas deputy killed

Porcelain — Sun, 03 Apr 2022 21:05:32 GMT

If you live somewhere with lots of guns, when you shoot at someone you can expect to be shot back. Simple logic. Simple odds. You should assume everyone around you is armed, especially criminals. Tools of the trade.

Gunfights usually have someone in the right and someone in the wrong. It's still a gunfight. When the police get into a gunfight with a suspect, it is called a gunfight. The term does not get into the details about who shot first or why.

Also keep in mind that bystanders are armed as well. One of them might mistake which person is the good guy and which one is the bad guy if no one is wearing a uniform. Then you've got a three way gunfight with the bystander mistakenly trying to help the wrong person by shooting into the situation. Lots of crossfire with that.

To each their own, I say.

Re: Texas deputy killed

SurferWife — Sun, 03 Apr 2022 20:20:39 GMT

This is not an issue of guns. It's an issue of a people of a nation sinking deeper & deeper into degeneracy. It's evil in people that is the issue. A weapon of any kind can't operate without a person operating it.

Re: Texas deputy killed

Sooner — Sun, 03 Apr 2022 20:31:43 GMT

Personally, I think it is a result of too much bad behavior being excused for one reason or another--when the behavior negates any reason.

Re: Texas deputy killed

Greeneyedlady21 — Sun, 03 Apr 2022 20:46:57 GMT

This country has been degenerate with gun violence for decades and decades. Other countries that aren't degenerate in that way look at us and shake their heads.