Houston, TX – An off-duty Harris County deputy was fatally shot in the parking lot of a grocery store on Thursday night as he was confronting three suspects who were allegedly trying to steal the catalytic converter from his vehicle, according to investigators.
Deputy Almendarez was fatally wounded during the ensuing exchange of fire, KHOU reported.
He shot two of his attackers, but police are still searching for the third.
Las Vegas, NV – Edmonds Police Department (EPD) Officer Tyler Steffins died on March 26 after being stabbed during an argument, according to police.
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) homicide detectives said the 33-year-old off-duty officer was on a pedestrian bridge near the 3900-block of South Las Vegas Boulevard between the MGM and New York-New York casinos when he got into an argument with 58-year-old Freddy Allen at approximately 9:40 p.m., KIRO reported.
The confrontation possibly involved a disagreement about a dog, police said.
Bystanders flagged over two LVMPD officers who were out on foot patrol and told them about the argument, KIRO reported.
The officers were en route to the scene when a witness told them someone had been stabbed.
They arrived to find Allen holding a knife, according to police.
Allen took off running and tossed the six-inch hunting knife into the Statue of Liberty fountain, but was quickly apprehended, KIRO reported.
Officer Steffins was rushed to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Everett, WA – Everett Police Department (EPD) Officer Dan Rocha was murdered in the line of duty while responding to a report of a suspicious person on March 25
At some point during the encounter, a scuffle broke out between Officer Rocha and the suspect and the suspect opened fire, KOMO reported.
The gunman then ran over the slain officer’s body while fleeing the scene in a vehicle, investigators said.
The suspect rolled the vehicle and emerged from the crash with minor injuries and was taken to the hospital for treatment before being booked into the Snohomish County Jail, KOMO reported.
He was later identified as convicted felon Richard James Rotter, who has at least 18 felonies on his record, KCPQ reported.
Oak Creek, WI – Dashcam footage captured the moment when two Oak Creek police officers were hit by a car while trying to check on a man who appeared to be passed out behind the wheel (video below- click story above for more). The officers Norrington hit with the car both suffered minor injuries.
Pima County, AZ – A Pima County sheriff’s deputy was repeatedly stabbed in the spine while responding to a call from a male who threatened to kill law enforcement officers.
Investigators said that when PCSD Deputy Eduardo Toral responded to the 3900-block of South Rocky Peak Court to Investigate the call, Ibrahim began pelting his patrol vehicle with rocks, KGUN reported.
Deputy Toral, a one-year veteran of the PCSD, remained in his vehicle and repeatedly ordered Ibrahim to show his hands, but the violent suspect refused, according to investigators.
The suspect then approached the deputy’s open driver’s side door and repeatedly stabbed him with a pair of scissors, plunging them into his spinal cord, shoulder, and face, The Arizona Republic reported.
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