A veteran Houston police officer was shot and killed, and another was wounded as they served a narcotics-related arrest warrant at a home in northeast Houston early Monday.
The officers returned fire, shooting and killing the suspect, KHOU reports.
According to the Houston Police Department, the shooting happened at about 7:28 a.m. in a community.
Chief Troy Finner said the officers, who are part of the department's Major Offenders fugitive warrant team, knocked on the door of a suspect wanted on narcotics charges. A woman answered the door, and that’s when the suspect appeared and opened fire on the officers.
Senior Police Officer William "Bill" Jeffrey was airlifted to the hospital and later died. Officer Michael Vance was taken to the hospital by ambulance. Vance is reportedly stable after surgery.
At a press conference later in the morning, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said Jeffrey was married with a child. He served the department for just under 31 years, and his wife Suzanne is a retired police officer.
KHOU has identified the suspect who was killed as 30-year-old Deon Ledet, although police have not yet formally identified him.
The suspect reportedly was wanted for forfeiting his bond on two felony drug charges from November 2020. He was supposed to get an ankle monitor but allegedly never did. He has a lengthy criminal history that records 18 arrests. Those arrests range from burglary, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and evading arrest, according to KHOU Those arrests go back to when he was 18 years old.
