A law enforcement officer was killed while working an extra job in southwest Houston last week.
Houston Police said 62-year-old Neil Adams with San Jacinto County Precinct 1 was working security at the PlazAmericas Mall in the 7500 block of Bellaire Boulevard when he was fatally shot in an altercation with another man around 4 p.m. on February 23.
Per FOX 4 News, Police Chief Troy Finner gave the department’s account of the incident in a press conference
Finner explained that during the altercation between Adams and the unidentified man, the 35-year-old suspect allegedly took the constable deputy’s gun and shot him to death.
Police officers arrived shortly after the shooting and found the suspect at the food court. However, he came at officers who tried to approach him with a “sharp-edged weapon.”
In the release, Finner said responding officers shot the suspect, but that he allegedly got up and attempted to flee, prompting officers to use a taser. Finner specified “the suspect continued to resist and officers eventually were able to place him into custody.”
Once in custody, the suspect was rushed to the hospital, where he later died.
The two officers who shot the suspect, T. Salameh and M. Nasser, have been placed on administrative leave, according to the department.
At the press conference, Chief Finner offered condolences for the family and loved ones that Constable Deputy Adams left behind.
“I ask that everybody pray for this beautiful family,” Finner said.
The police chief also asked for prayers for law enforcement: “Pray for law enforcement profiles, cities, our counties, and our nation.”
Adams’ wife was also at the press conference. She asked residents for support for other officers like her husband. “My husband always said that you can either be a sheep or sheepdog. And I want everybody to pray for all the sheepdogs out there that are protecting everybody,” she said.
