A Texas sheriff’s deputy shot and killed a fellow deputy Friday morning after confusing him for a suspect while they both were searching a vacant home.
Turns out, there was nobody inside the house when the four law enforcement officers entered to search for possible trespassers.
They had been responding to a call from a woman who became suspicious after seeing “someone running down the street,” according to KXAN. The woman apparently believed it had something to do with the vacant house because the cops were told to do a “property check in” there.
The deputy who died has been identified as Caleb Rule, 37, who worked for the Fort Bend Precinct 4 Constable’s Office. The deputy who fired the shot has not been identified but he works for the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office.
According to Click 2 Houston:
Officials said they received a call for a vacant property check-in at Sienna Plantation after a neighbor called and said she saw someone running down the street, though it was suspicious. Officials said three deputies responded, as well as a deputy with Pct 4.
Deputies said they entered the residence through a back door that was not secure. They were then going through the process of clearing the home and at some point in time, the sheriff’s deputy discharged his weapon after he thought that there was a suspect inside the house.
Officials said that deputy, who has been identified as Caleb Rule, 37, was flown to Memorial Hermann with CPR in progress, where he later died.
Authorities said Rule worked for the department for nine months. Prior to that, Rule worked as a detective for the Missouri City Police Department for 14 years. He was a husband and father to four children.
Statements are being taken by the deputies on the scene. Deputies at the scene will be placed on administrative leave pending further investigation by the Texas Rangers.
“I’m not going to say anything was done wrong,” Constable Trever Nehls said. “I think what we have in this certain circumstance is mistaken identity. A tragedy of mistaken identity.” … “I am not going to speculate what I think the deputy felt at that time or what he was feeling as the home was being searched.”
Check out the press conference below.
