Houston Deputy Who Mentored Others Shot, Killed During Traffic Stop

A deputy has been shot and killed during an early morning traffic stop in Houston.

Corporal Charles Galloway, of Harris County Precinct 5, was fatally gunned down in the 9100 block of Beechnut at about 12:45 a.m. on Sunday.

The suspect, a Hispanic man, drove off in a white Toyota, police said, sparking a manhunt.

Houston Police Department (HPD) Chief Troy Finner said it was likely an assault-type weapon had been used in the shooting.

"Message to the suspect, the best thing you can do is turn yourself in peacefully," Finner said.

Galloway, who was 47 years old, joined the Harris County Precinct 5 in 2009, KHOU reported.

Precinct 5 Constable Heap said his role was to mentor younger officers, teaching them how to be safe and efficient officers.

It appeared Galloway did not have time to defend himself, Heap said.

"There is a lot of very broken up officers who he meant a lot in their lives because he was the one sitting in the front seat with him," Heap said. "He was the one teaching them what to do and how to get home safely to their families and here we are this evening with the roles reversed."

Galloway is survived by his daughter and sister.

Chief Finner said of the shooting: "What we are seeing, on what appears to be a regular basis, on the streets of Harris County has got to stop. It has got to stop.

"These are not assaults These are not attacks. These are brutal, brutal murders. We have got to put an end to this.

He added: "We cannot have people like this on our streets. I don't want to raise my family. My grandchildren in a county where this type of crime is running rampant.

"These are men and women who go out there on a daily basis, not because of the pay, not because of the days off, or because they like to work day shift, or night shift, it's because they want to make a difference in their community."

Newsweek has contacted the HPD for comment.

Houston police officers joined Precinct 5 in escorting Galloway to the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences on Sunday morning.

The death comes just days after a Harris County Sheriff's Office deputy and mother-of-two sustained a "possible self-inflicted gunshot wound" following an argument with her boyfriend.

Amanda Crowder, 33, was off-duty at the time and sustained the fatal injury after she and her boyfriend had an argument at Kung Fu Saloon on Washington Avenue in the early hours of Monday morning.

In New York City, one officer was fatally shot and another remains in a critical condition after being taken to hospital.

Officer Jason Rivera, 22, died after being shot twice while his partner Wilbert Mora, 27, was said to be fighting for his life following a bullet injury to the back of his head.

In a Saturday Twitter post, President Joe Biden said: "Jill and I are saddened to hear two NYPD officers were shot last night — one fatally.

"We're keeping them and their families in our prayers. Officers put on the badge and head into harm's way every day. We're grateful to them and their families for their extraordinary sacrifice."