Suspect Named in ‘Execution-Style’ Killing of Texas Deputy

635764140350261810-Darren-GoforthBy Doug Stanglin and Marco della Cava. Harris County authorities in Texas have a man in custody in Friday’s shooting death of a sheriff’s deputy, Sheriff Ron Hickman said at a press conference Saturday. The suspect, Shannon J. Miles, has a previous criminal history including resisting arrest and disorderly conduct with a firearm. He is being charged with capital murder.

Hickman says the shooting was “unprovoked” and the department is still looking for a motive for the “cold-blooded assassination” of the officer at a Houston-area gas station.

Deputy Darren Goforth, 47, was fatally shot in the back late Friday while filling his patrol car in northwest Harris County. Hickman said ballistics tests showed a match between the weapon used to kill Goforth and a weapon in Miles’ possession.

Hickman, in discussing the shooting with reporters at an earlier press conference, condemned the “very dangerous national rhetoric” about police officers that he said was out of control.

Officials said Miles is the individual captured on surveillance video. He was apprehended, Hickman said, by locating the red Ford pick-up scene on the surveillance video, which was parked near where Miles resided. (Read more from “Suspect Named in ‘Execution-Style’ Killing of Texas Deputy” HERE)

_______________________________________________

Texas Deputy Killed While Fueling Patrol Car, Authorities Say

By Faith Karimi. A man shot a uniformed sheriff’s deputy “execution-style” while he fueled his patrol car in the Houston area, killing him instantly, authorities said.

Deputy Darren H. Goforth, 47, was returning to his car after pumping gas Friday night.

The gunman walked up from behind him and opened fire for no apparent reason, Harris County Sheriff Ron Hickman said.

When Goforth fell to the ground, the gunman stood over him and shot him some more, authorities said. He died at the scene.

“He was literally gunned down in what appears to be an unprovoked, execution-style killing,” Hickman said. “I have been in law enforcement for 45 years, I have never seen anything this cold-blooded.” (Read more from this story HERE)

Follow Joe Miller on Twitter HERE and Facebook HERE.