Texas Police Officer Killed in Gun Battle with Suspect

Dec. 5, 2021

Mesquite Police Officer Richard Houston, a 21-year veteran of the department, was fatally shot when a shootout broke out with a suspect during a disturbance call.

By Megan Cardona

Source Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Mesquite, TX, Police Officer Richard Houston.

The Mesquite Police Department announced Saturday afternoon that Richard Houston was the officer who was fatally shot while responding to a disturbance call Friday in the 1500 block of S. Belt Line Road.

Houston was a 21-year veteran of the department. The department said his assignments included serving in the operations bureau as a patrol officer, on the SWAT team for over 10 years and in criminal investigations handling burglary and theft, homeland security, and juvenile and gang cases.

The disturbance call at around 1:40 p.m. led to a shootout between Houston and a male suspect after the suspect pulled a gun, authorities said on Friday.

Both Houston and the suspect were transported to Baylor Scott & White Medical Center in Dallas. At the time, both were in critical condition. The department said Houston died from his injuries at 2:11 p.m.

Houston was married with three children.

"This was a senseless act of violence," Mesquite Police Chief David Gill said in a statement. "Richard was a great officer, friend, father and husband. Please keep his family and our family in your prayers."

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