Two men have been accused in the shooting death of an off-duty Texas deputy who was gunned down in grocery store parking lot after leaving the store and a third male is being hunted.
Joshua Stewart, 23, and Fredarius Clark, 19, are both accused with capital murder in connection with the death of Harris County Sheriff’s Deputy Darren Almendarez.
The Harris County Sheriff’s Office said that the deputy had just come out of a Joe V’s Smart Shop with his wife when he saw a Nissan Altima backed up to his truck and two males under the truck. They said that it was maybe a catalytic converter that was being stolen but they are not sure. Those particulars are still being examined but Darren interfered to try to stop a crime.
Darren, 51, told his wife to go anywhere safe and he come close to the suspect vehicle, which by then had three people inside. As he walked over, he was fired upon and hit multiple times. The deputy managed to return fire and shot at least two suspects.
At the time of his death, Darren had purchased groceries and was planning to have a cookout to celebrate his sister’s birthday.
The #FBI sends our condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of Senior Deputy Darren Almendarez. He served the Harris County Sheriff’s Office (@HCSOTexas) for 23 years—about seven of which were spent serving on the Bureau’s Safe Street Task Force. pic.twitter.com/WRx7yjnL30
— FBI (@FBI) April 1, 2022
Suspects then fled the parking lot and Darren was taken to a hospital where he later passes away. The two suspects arrived at a hospital a short time later with gunshot wounds. A third male defined as between 17 and 19 years of age is being hunted by investigators for interrogative purposes.
Darren, an old hand of the sheriff’s office who was most lately allotted to the auto theft division, was recalled as a fighter. He was of late the emphasis of a sheriff’s office spotlight video where he offered steps to evade buying a stolen vehicle and other tips.
