Dec. 8 (UPI) — A Houston police sergeant responding to a domestic disturbance was shot dead Saturday night, one day after a police officer in Huntsville, Ala., was shot to death.
Sgt. Christopher Brewster, 32, died after responding to the call at 5:45 p.m. on Houston’s East End from a woman who told dispatchers her boyfriend was assault her and had two weapons, police Chief Art Acevedo told reporters.
Huntsville Officer Billy Clardy III, 48, was shot and while participating in a narcotics operation with the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Gulf Coast Task Force at 4 p.m. Friday, the department said in a news release
In Houston, Brewster found the couple walking on a nearby street. While exiting the vehicles without his gun drawn, he came under fire, according to Acevedo. He managed to draw his weapon and radio a description of the suspect. He was wearing a vest.
The suspected killer is Arturo Solis, 25, whose criminal history includes a charge of assault causing bodily injury.
In court Sunday, he was charged with capital murder of a police officer and is being held without bond.
“Thank you all for your continued prayers,” Acevedo posted on Twitter. about Brewster, who was married. “We will get through this tragedy as a family with the help of our community.”
For nine years, he was assigned to patrol and Gang and Major Offenders Divisions. In February, he promoted and was assigned to East Side Patrol.
“Our hearts are heavy tonight as a Houston Police Officer was killed in the line of duty,” Texas Gov. Greg Abbott posted on his personal Twitter account. “Send prayers to lift up the family of this slain officer. Tonight & Every Night we Back The Blue in Houston & across Texas.”
The last line-of-duty fatality involving a Houston-area law enforcement officer was in September when Harris County Sheriff’s deputy Sandeep Dhaliwal was ambushed during a traffic stop.
In Alabama, Clardy was the seventh officer to die in the line of duty this year.
“I am grieved to hear of the Huntsville Police Officer killed in the line of duty and extend my deepest sympathies and prayers to his family for their unimaginable loss,” Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey posted on Twitter. “It has been an exceptionally tough year for our law enforcement community, and this will be felt across our state. I will also be praying for the strength for the Huntsville Police as they grieve the loss of their fellow officer, as well as for their continued protection as they keep us safe. May the Lord’s peace that passes all understanding be with the family and everyone who loved this dedicated officer.”
Clardy’s father, Billy Fred Clardy Jr., was killed in the line of duty with the department in 1978.
Clardy, who was a U.S. Army veteran, served with the Huntsville Police Department for 14 years and previously worked with with the Limestone County Sheriff’s Office and the Fayetteville, Tenn., Police Department. He is survived by his wife and five children.
“Billy Clardy was more than a Huntsville hero,” McMurray police Chief Mark McMurray said Saturday in announcing the officer’s name He was an American hero.”
He was surrounded by dozens of law enforcement officers, local leaders and Clardy’s family.
He was part of a task force conducting a buy-bust operation at a home. Agents attempted to take the suspect into custody as the man delivered a large amount of narcotics to the home. The man immediately opened fire, striking Clardy in an area not protected by his vest.
The man was taken into custody after a short foot pursuit.
Police have identified the suspect as LaJeromeny Brown, 41, of Tennessee. He is held in the Madison County jail on a capital murder charge, police said.