Deputy Jesus Varga was shot in the head and pronounced dead at a local hospital.
KHOU 11 is reporting that the shooting apparently occurred at a Dollar Tree store based on crime scene tape observed at the location.
The suspect has been identified as Sean Christopher Davis (aka Robert Lee Davis), 56. He is at large and reportedly the subject of a Blue Alert and manhunt.
Authorities said Vargas was working with the U.S. Marshal's Gulf Coast Violent Offenders Task Force when he was shot.
According to court records, Davis has faced several previous criminal charges.
• 1990 - Burglary with motor vehicle
• 1991 - Evading arrest
• 1992 - Escape
• 1994 - Aggravated robbery causing serious bodily injury
• 2024 - Aggravated sexual assault
The aggravated sexual assault charge from last year is the warrant he was being served Wednesday when he opened fire on Vargas.
Deputy Vargas is survived by his wife and three children.