MESQUITE, Texas — Mesquite Police Department Sergeant Richard Lee Houston II, of Forney, Texas, was tragically shot and killed today in the line of duty during a disturbance call in a grocery store parking lot.
MESQUITE, Texas — Mesquite Police Department Sergeant Richard Lee Houston II, of Forney, Texas, was tragically shot and killed today in the line of duty during a disturbance call in a grocery store parking lot.
At approximately 1:40 p.m., on Friday, December 3, 2021, the Mesquite Police Department was dispatched to a disturbance in the parking lot of Albertsons, located in the 1500 block of South Beltline Road in Mesquite, Texas.
"During the course of the investigation, an officer was shot and a male suspect was also shot," read a brief statement from Mesquite Police Department Lt. Brandon Ricketts.
Both Mesquite Police Department Sgt. Houston and the alleged suspect were transported to area hospitals in critical condition.
Friday evening, Mesquite Police Department Chief David Gill confirmed the officer was struck twice and later pronounced deceased at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas.
The suspect remains in critical condition.
"This was a senseless act of violence that ripped a loving father and husband from his family," stated Gill. "He was a 21-year veteran of the Mesquite Police Department. He was a good man, a good friend, a good officer."
"Please keep his family and our family in your prayers," he said.
Houston leaves behind a family, including a wife and three children.
Houston was hired as a Mesquite Police Officer on January 8, 2001, after graduating the Session 153 of the Basic Course in Applied Police Science as Valedictorian.
His assignments included serving in the Operations Bureau as a Patrol Officer, on the SWAT Team for more than 10 years, and in Criminal Investigations handling Burglary and Theft, Homeland Security, and Juvenile/Gang cases, according to the Mesquite Police Department. Houston also earned a Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Master Peace Officer License and Instructor Proficiency Certificate.
His recognitions during his Mesquite Police Department career include:
- 48 Letters of Commendation
- 2 Life Saving Awards
- 1 Police Commendation Bar
- Citizens Police Academy Officer of the Month Award in August 2018
The Mesquite Police Association is accepting donations benefiting the Houston family at https://charities.thempa.org/donate/.
"Our hearts are with the family and loved ones of the Mesquite Police Department officer who passed away this evening," read a statement from Texas Governor Greg Abbott. "This tragedy is a solemn reminder of the risks our law enforcement officers take every day by putting their lives on the line to serve and protect our communities. Cecilia and I ask our fellow Texans to join us in praying for the officer's family and the Mesquite Police Department during this difficult time."
This is a developing story.