Texas Deputy Accidentally Shoots, Kills Deputy Constable
By Claire Goodman, Houston Chronicle
Source Houston Chronicle
MISSOURI CITY, Texas -- A Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office deputy accidentally shot and killed a Constable’s Office Precinct 4 deputy early Friday during the end of a property investigation, authorities said.
Authorities identified the deputy constable as Caleb Rule.
Both agencies were investigating a call reporting suspicious activity at a residence in the 3900 block of Chestnut Bend in the Sienna Plantation subdivision in Missouri City.
Three sheriff’s office units and one constable’s office unit arrived about 1:45 a.m. to check the property, Fort Bend County Sheriff Troy Nehls said. As the officers were in the process of clearing the home, a sheriff’s deputy discharged his weapon, believing a suspect was inside the house.
The presumed suspect, however, was actually Rule. The deputy’s identity has not been released.
The Texas Rangers are investigating the incident, Nehls said. “There’s a joint investigation being conducted… we’re piecing together what happened,” he said.
The deputy constable was life-flighted to Memorial Hermann Hospital where he later died.
The sheriff’s office has confirmed that Rule was wearing his bulletproof vest at the time of the shooting.
“This is a very somber moment,” Nehls said, adding that Fort Bend County Precinct 4 Constable Trever Nehls, his twin, is currently at the hospital with Rule’s family.
“We are heartbroken over this,” said Troy Nehls. “We are praying for everyone involved and will have chaplains available for whoever needs them, regardless of what agency they’re with.”
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