Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said he was shot while confronting suspected car burglars outside Joe V’s Smart Shop on FM 1960 block 2900 in Aldine Westfield at 8:40 p.m. Thursday. “We produced a male shot in the chest,” were the first to respond by reporting on the radio. Update 2 on the 1960 shooting: It destroys us to announce that our deputy has passed away. Please keep his family and our members in your prayers. I will provide an update to the media soon outside HCA Houston NW, corner of Judiiwood & Cali. #HouNews https://t.co/yvSFViGAd1 – Ed Gonzalez (@SheriffEd_HCSO) April 1, 2022 The video from the scene shows how many shots were fired. The windshield of the suspects’ car was covered with bullet holes. Deputies said the suspects drove themselves to the hospital after the shooting. Two suspects were shot and are now being treated in hospital, while the third suspect is believed to be on the run. We are deeply saddened by the loss of Harris County Sheriff’s Deputy, Darren Almendarez, 51. A 23-year-old agency veteran who served in our car theft unit last year. Our thoughts and prayers are addressed to his wife, children, extended family, colleagues and friends. pic.twitter.com/PvzsBQfa48 – HCSOTexas (@HCSOTexas) April 1, 2022 Gonzalez said the deputy, identified as 51-year-old Darren Almendarez, protected his wife in the last moments of his life. Almendarez is a 23-year-old veteran of the sheriff’s office. Ranked in the car theft department. Deputies said Almendarez’s wife spotted something resembling suspects trying to steal the catalyst from the couple’s truck as they left the grocery store. Gonzalez said Almendares told his wife to stay behind as he approached the suspects. It was then that one of the three men started firing. Almentares was shot and he retaliated, investigators said. Two of the three suspects were also shot. “On a personal level and as a sheriff, that’s bad. We have bad people out there,” Gonzalez said of the shooting. The off-duty deputy was taken to hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. “Because I know him personally, professionally, I can say he would do the same,” said Edison Tokika, the deputy chief executive. “Ironically, it happened to be his truck.” Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner issued a statement Friday morning regarding Almendares’s death. “I’m deeply saddened by the death of Deputy Darren Almendarez. We mourn with our brothers and sisters in the Harris County Sheriff’s office and support them as they mourn the loss of the 23-year-old veteran. Law enforcement is inherently dangerous, but what happened It’s unacceptable.It’s a terrible day when a family trip to a grocery store ends in violence and loss of life.Deputy Almendarez will be remembered as a loyal civil servant who died while protecting his wife.I ask everyone to pray with me for the family of the Member of Parliament, his colleagues and to stop the senseless violence “. Governor Greg Abbott also issued a statement saying the state would be ready to provide all necessary resources to bring justice to the family and loved ones of Deputy Almendareth. “Deputy Darren Almendarez died while responding to a call to serve and protect his Texan colleagues, and this tragedy is a heartbreaking reminder of the sacrifices made by law enforcement officers both on and off duty. The State of Texas is ready to provide all the resources necessary to bring justice to Almendarez’s family and loved ones, and I ask the Texans to pray with Cecilia and me for Almendarez’s family and for the continued safety of all law enforcement officers. across the state of Lone Star. “ Deputies were investigating a second crime scene less than a mile down the street in Circle K, where investigators taped the parking lot and towed an SUV. At that scene, authorities collected a weapon they thought was related. However, ABC13 has learned that based on the surveillance video, the weapon is not associated with this shot. For more on this story, follow Courtney Fischer on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Copyright © 2022 KTRK-TV. All rights reserved.
