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Uniformed Texas Deputy Shot & Killed at Gas Station in 'Unprovoked, Execution-Style Killing

Uniformed Texas Deputy Shot & Killed at Gas Station in 'Unprovoked, Execution-Style Killing

"We ask that you continue to give us your prayers and thoughts."

Update 6:05 p.m. ET: Authorities on Saturday arrested a suspect in connection with the fatal shooting of a sheriff's deputy, the Harris County Sheriff's office said.

Update 2:55 p.m. ET: Harris County Sheriff Ron Hickman at a news conference Saturday afternoon said that when "dangerous rhetoric," like some spurred by the Black Lives Matter movement, results in "calculated and cold-blooded" attacks on law enforcement, it has "gotten out of control."

"We've heard black lives matter, all lives matter. Well, cops' lives matter, too," he said.

Authorities said they were speaking with a person of interest in the investigation into the fatal shooting of Deputy Darren Goforth Friday night while he was filling up his car at a local gas station.

No charges have been filed and the investigation is still ongoing.

Update 11:45 a.m. ET: Police were speaking with a person who has information about Friday's shooting of a Texas deputy who was filling up his tank at a gas station, Harris County Sheriff's Office spokesman Deputy Thomas Gilliland said, but that the person is not under arrest, nor is he a suspect or person of interest. No one has been charged and the intensive search for a suspect is ongoing.

Deputy Darren Goforth, 47, was pumping gas about 8:30 p.m. Friday when a man approached him from behind and fired multiple shots, Harris County Sheriff's Office spokesman Ryan Sullivan told The Associated Press.

This undated photo provided by the Harris County Sheriff's Office shows sheriff's deputy Darren Goforth who was fatally shot Friday, Aug. 28, 2015. Goforth, was pumping gas into his vehicle when a man approached him from behind and fired multiple shots, Harris County Sheriff's Office spokesman Ryan Sullivan told The Associated Press. (Harris County Sheriff's Office via AP)

Police described the suspect as a man believed to be between 20 and 25 years old and stands about 5-foot-10 to 6-feet tall. He was wearing a white T-shirt and red shorts and driving a red or maroon pickup-style truck with an extended cab. CNN had reported earlier that a suspect was in custody but Gilliland clarified that a person with information was cooperating with authorities and the suspect was still being sought.

Goforth was a 10-year veteran of the force, had a wife and two children, according to Harris County Sheriff Ron Hickman.

"In my 45 years in law enforcement, I can't recall another incident so cold-blooded and cowardly," Hickman said, who added no motive had been determined.

Update 9:35 a.m. ET: Sgt. William Kennard of the Texas Department of Public Safety told CNN that the man "believed to be the alleged gunman," who shot and killed an on-duty law enforcement officer in Texas, is in custody.

An on-duty uniformed deputy in Texas was shot and killed Friday night while pumping gas into his cruiser, authorities said.

The Harris County Sheriff's Office said that a male suspect with a dark complexion, wearing a white shirt and red shorts, opened fire on Darren Goforth, 47, at a gas station just outside Houston.

"A male suspect came up from behind the deputy and shot the deputy multiple times. The deputy then fell to ground. The suspect then continued over to him and shot the deputy again multiple times as he laid on the ground," deputy Thomas Gilliland told reporters.

Suspect wanted for allegedly gunning down Texas deputy. (Image source: Harris County Sheriff's Office)

"I can tell you that with diligence and justice, this suspect will be caught and he will be brought to justice," Gilliland added.

The suspect was described as a man in his early-to-mid 20s with short hair. Police say he was driving a maroon or red fleet side extended cab Ford Ranger. A manhunt was underway.

A motive was not yet clear.

Image source: Screen grab via KTRK-TV

Sheriff Ron Hickman told reporters that Goforth was the victim of an "unprovoked, execution-style killing."

Goforth, a 10-year veteran of the force, leaves behind a wife and two children.

"Tonight we lost one of our brothers. This is an extremely difficult time right now for the Harris County Sheriff's Office," the sheriff's office said on Twitter. "We ask that you continue to give us your prayers and thoughts. Continue praying for this deputy's family."

This story has been updated. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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