Three Harris County, Texas deputies were shot during a “cowardly ambush attack” early Saturday morning — leaving one of them dead as a suspect remains on the run.
Around 2:00 a.m. local time, Three Precinct 4 Deputies were working extra law enforcement duties at a bar in the 4400 block of the North Freeway. A witness alerted the deputies of a possible robbery in the parking lot of the business.
When the deputies went to the parking lot they began to arrest a possible suspect. During this time, a second suspect “unseen to the deputies opened fire on both of the deputies with an AR-15 assault rifle, striking both deputies,” officials said.
Deputy Kareem Atkins, 30, died from his gun shot injuries. Deputy Atkins recently returned back to work after paternity leave and leaves a wife and 6 month old baby.
Deputy Darryl Garrett, 28, was shot in the back and underwent surgery and is in the ICU at Hermann hospital downtown.
Upon hearing the gunshots in the parking lot, Deputy Juqaim Barthen, 26, rushed to the parking lot to aid his fellow deputies. He too was immediately shot and immobilized.
“Deputies Atkins, Garrett, and Barthen are true law enforcement heroes that were cowardly ambushed while serving and protecting their community,” said Constable Mark Herman.
The suspect(s) remain at large.
