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A Texas sheriff's deputy who was shot multiple times from behind while conducting a traffic stop on Friday afternoon has died, police said.
Sandeep Dhaliwal, a 10-year veteran of the Harris County Sheriff's Office and its first Sikh deputy, stopped a vehicle with two people inside around at 12:45 p.m.
Harris County Sheriff's Deputy Sandeep Dhaliwal was shot from behind during a traffic stop and later died from his injuries. (Harris County Sheriff's Office)
One of the occupants was able to leave the vehicle, approach the deputy from behind and shoot him at least twice — "basically just shot him in a very ruthless, cold-blooded way," said Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez.
Late Friday, the sheriff's office announced that Robert Solis, 47, had been charged with capital murder in Dhaliwal's death. Gonzalez tweeted that Solis was wanted on a parole violation warrant dating back to January 2017, when he was reportedly accused of threatening his girlfriend and possessing a prohibited weapon. Click2Houston reported that Solis was sentenced to more than 20 years in prison in 2002 for aggravated kidnapping but was released on parole in 2014. His parole would have expired in 2022
Police announced that Robert Solis, 47, has been charged with the capital murder of Deputy Sandeep Dhaliwal. (Harris County Sheriff's Office)
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Dhaliwal's dashboard camera captured video showing Dhaliwal speaking with the driver in what appeared to be a conversational tone with "no combat, no arguing," Sheriff's Maj. Mike Lee said. The driver's door was opened at one point, and Dhaliwal shut it as the driver remained in the vehicle. When Dhaliwal turned to walk back to his patrol car, the driver steps from the car "almost immediately running with a gun already out," Lee said. The driver shot the deputy from behind, hitting him in the back of the head. The driver got back in his car and drove away.
A deputy a short time later found and arrested a nervous man matching the description of the driver in a business at a nearby strip shopping center, Lee said. A woman believed to have been a passenger in the car also was taken into custody. It was not clear if she would face charges.
Dhaliwal, 42, was pronounced dead at Memorial Hermann Hospital, Fox 26 Houston reported.
"I’m sad to share with you that we’ve lost one of our own," Gonzalez tweeted Friday. "There are no words to convey our sadness. Please keep his family and our agency in your prayers."
Gonzalez's predecessor as sheriff, Adrian Garcia, implemented a religious accommodation policy that allowed Dhaliwal to wear the traditional turban and beard of the Sikh religion. The deputy was a father of three children.
Gonzelez recounted how Dhaliwal worked with United Sikhs, an international nonprofit, non-governmental, humanitarian relief, human development and advocacy organization affiliated with the United Nations. Dhaliwal worked with the nonprofit to organize the donation of supplies for first responders after Hurricane Harvey devastated the county. He also went to Puerto Rico to help with relief after Hurricane Maria devastated the island.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said he and his wife were mourning the deputy's loss and sending their sympathies to his family and law enforcement members.
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"This tragic loss is a grave reminder of the risks that our law enforcement officers face every single day," Abbott said in a statement. "I thank the officers who bravely responded to apprehend the suspect, and I assure you that the state of Texas is committed to bringing this killer to justice."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
