Houston — A man opened fire on a Texas sheriff’s deputy in southwest Houston, sparking a massive manhunt involving multiple law enforcement agencies, authorities said.
The suspect opened fire on Jesus Vargas, a 17-year veteran of the Brazoria County Sheriff’s Department, as Brazoria County Sheriff Bo Stallman was trying to serve an arrest warrant Wednesday morning.
Houston Mayor John Whitmire said the suspect has a long criminal history, including aggravated assault, and that Vargas and his partner worked with a U.S. Marshals task force to find the suspect and serve a warrant.
Crime scene tape surrounded the shopping plaza parking lot after the shooting.
Authorities said a massive search for the shooting suspect included helicopters, K-9s and police teams.
“We have a lot of people working to bring this man to justice,” said Houston Police Chief J. Noe Diaz.
Stallman said Vargas was married and had three children.
