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Veteran Texas Sheriff's Deputy Fatally Shot at His Home After Confronting Burglars — Here's What We Know

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The 32-year veteran who had plans to retire in September.

 Carly Hoilman
July 25, 2016
KXAN-TV

A veteran Texas sheriff's deputy was fatally shot early Monday morning after confronting two armed burglars at his own home north of Austin.

Police said Craig Hutchinson, a sergeant with the Travis County Sheriff's Office, was shot in Round Rock, 15 miles north of Austin, around 1:30 a.m., KXAN-TV reported. According to the station, Hutchinson called the Texas Department of Public Safety at around 1:22 a.m. when he saw the suspects running around his backyard.

Officers arrived at Hutchinson’s house 10 minutes later to discover he had been shot in his backyard and that equipment had been stolen from his shed, Travis County Sheriff Greg Hamilton said at a press conference on Monday morning, according to KVUE-TV.

The sergeant was transported to Round Rock Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Hutchinson was 32-year veteran who had plans to retire in September.

"He was a gentle bear. He taught me everything I know," Hamilton said. "He was my field training officer, and I loved that guy to death."

The sheriff told reporters he believed Hutchinson was another victim of a series of burglaries in the neighborhood in recent weeks.

Hutchinson was in full uniform and finishing his shift when he confronted the burglars in his backyard, according to KVUE.

A motorcade transported Hutchinson's body to the medical examiner's officer Monday morning.

Local authorities told residents to stay inside their homes as they search for the two suspects, KXAN reported.

Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo posted a message to Twitter early Monday morning, requesting prayer for the sheriff's department. "Sad, troubling times we live in," he wrote.

The investigation into Hutchinson's death is continuing.

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