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Summary: The man accused of killing a Texas deputy over the weekend apparently fired his weapon 15 times during the shooting.
According to Fox News, the accused gunman who killed a Texas deputy fired 15 shots at close range, actually emptying the clip and chamber of his .40 caliber handgun. Deputy Darren Goforth, 47, died at the scene during Friday’s shooting.
Shannon Miles, 30, who allegedly stood over the dead cop and continued to fire, appeared in court Monday morning and was arraigned for capital murder. Miles, who has a large frame and a commanding demeanor, appeared calm during the arraignment. He answered Judge Denise Collins’ questions in a low tone with “Yes ma’am” or “No ma’am.” On two occasions, Collins had to request that Collins called her “ma’am.”
The courtroom was full of law enforcement officers, who listened intently as Harris County District Attorney Devon Anderson described the video surveillance that captured the brutal attack.
Anderson
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A wealthy family and their housekeeper were murdered in Washington, D.C. earlier this year.
An individual identified as Miles can be seen on the video sneaking up on Goforth from behind as Goforth was pumping gas. The shooter fires into the back of Goforth’s head, and, after Goforth collapsed, the shooter stands over the officer’s body and fires the remaining bullets.
Officers were able to quickly identify the vehicle as a red Ford Ranger, but they could not pick up its license plate. However, certain characteristics, such as a market trailer hitch and a white cooler in the bed of the truck, helped investigators track Miles down.
Upon searching Miles’ garage, they found the white cooler, as well as a .40 caliber pistol that Anderson explained that was determined to be the murder weapon. The gun was loaded with Aguila bullets, and Aguila casings were found at the gas station where the murder happened.
Loading ...However, a motive for the shooting is still unclear. According to NBC News, Sheriff Ron Hickman said, “Our assumption is he was a target because he wore a uniform.”
According to Miles’ mother, Miles cannot be the killer because they were shopping when the murder happened.
“We got back, we couldn’t get on our street. So after we couldn’t get on our street, when we came back, the way back to our house and then that’s when we [were] faced with SWAT and dogs and cops and guns and they handcuffed him,” his mother said.
Last week, a news anchor and a cameraman were murdered on live television.
One of Miles’ defense attorneys, Anthony Osso, said that Miles “indicated to the investigating officers that he was not involved in the case” and would probably plead not guilty. Osso added that he and Charles Brown, another attorney, were appointed on Monday and would have their own independent ballistic report completed on the gun that is believed to be the murder weapon.
Osso added that it is “difficult enough to handle these types of cases,” and that “we can’t let people try to make it a political issue.”
It has been revealed that Miles has a significant criminal record, with several short jail stays ranging from 6-10 days in length.
His criminal history ranges from 2005 to 2009. He had been convicted for criminal mischief, giving false information to the police, resisting arrest, evading arrest, and disorderly conduct with a firearm.
In June, a man who was killed by police had a plan to behead law enforcement officers.
According to CNN, Hickman added that the lives of all individuals matter, in light of the recent trending hashtags “black lives matter” and “all lives matter.” Hickman commented, “When the rhetoric ramps up to the point where calculated, cold-blooded assassination of police officers happen, this rhetoric has gotten out of control. We’ve heard ‘Black Lives Matter,’ ‘All lives matter.’ Well, cops’ lives matter too. So why don’t we just drop the qualifier, and just say ‘Lives Matter,’ and take that to the bank.”
Goforth is survived by his wife and two kids.
Kathleen Goforth said of her late husband, “My husband was an incredibly intricate blend of toughness and gentility. He was loyal…fiercely so. And he was ethical; the right thing to do is what guided his internal compass. I admired this quality, perhaps the most. For that was what made Darren good. And he was good. So, if people want to know what kind of man he was…This is it. He was who you wanted for a friend, colleague, and a neighbor.”
Source: Fox News
Photo credit: NBC News, houstonchronicle.com (Anderson)
