Sheriff’s deputy killed, another officer hurt in shootout while trying to serve warrant

VAN ZANDT COUNTY, Texas (KLTV/Gray News) - A sheriff’s deputy was killed and a police officer was injured late Tuesday during a warrant service that ended in a shootout, authorities said.

County Court at Law Judge Joshua Wintters confirmed the deputy killed was Adam Sherifi.

According to Van Zandt County Sheriff Kevin Bridger, deputies were assisting the Canton Police Department with serving felony warrants in the 4300 block of State Highway 198. Bridger said the suspect had outstanding warrants for aggravated assault and aggravated assault on a peace officer.

Around 10:22 p.m., shots were reportedly fired from inside the home toward deputies and officers outside. Bridger said law enforcement returned fire and struck the suspect.

During the exchange, a Canton police officer and a Van Zandt County sheriff’s deputy were shot. The officer was taken to a hospital for treatment, and the deputy died from his injuries. The suspect was found dead inside the home from a gunshot wound.

Wintters said the Canton officer who was injured is Christopher Watson. Wintters said Watson is in danger of losing an arm.

“I sure hope that he has the doctors and the surgeons with the ability to make sure that he doesn’t lose the use of that arm,” Wintters said.

Texas Rangers are investigating the shooting.

A vigil was held at the Van Zandt County Courthouse. Nancy White, who was related by marriage to Sherifi, said emotions are running high.

“It’s very quick and very sudden and there’s so many emotions and none of them are good. We shouldn’t be doing this today. He’s a great father. He loves his wife and his children,” White said. “He was the provider. He was the protector. He was who a father and man should be.”

White said the community always shows up in moments like this.

“Whenever somebody is hurting, we always show up. We might bicker like family, but we always show up like family. So the fact that this happened, and you have as many people show up as you did, shows you that we are the community that we love,” White said. “It really shows how much we show up for people and hardships, whether it be tornado, power outage or a loss of a loved one. We need to remember that our first responders are protectors and that we have to protect them and their families, and that we need to provide for them and make sure that they have the things that they need in that process, too.”