Houston's first 'trailblazing' Sikh cop shot dead during routine traffic stop in 'cold-blooded ambush'
HOUSTON, TEXAS: Sandeep Dhaliwal, the first Sikh to become a deputy in Houston's Harris County Sheriff's department was shot dead in the head on Friday, September 27.
Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez described Dhaliwal, as "a trailblazer who paved the way for other Sikhs to join the department", during a press conference, according to a CNN report.
"He wore the turban, he represented his community with integrity, respect, and pride and he was respected by all," Gonzalez said. Dhaliwal was previously dubbed a hero for helping those affected by hurricanes Harvey and Maria.
Dhaliwal was conducting a routine traffic stop when he was shot. He was heading back to his patrol car when the assailant got out of the vehicle with a pistol. "In a cold-blooded manner, ambush-style, (he) shot Deputy Dhaliwal from behind," Gonzalez said.
The killer, 47-year-old Robert Solis, has been arrested and charged with capital murder, the sheriff's office said on Twitter.
According to a Fox News report, Dhaliwal's dashboard camera captured the footage of the cop speaking with Solis. The tone was conversational with "no combat, no arguing," Sheriff's Maj. Mike Lee said.
When Dhaliwal turned to walk back to his patrol car, the driver stepped out from the car "almost immediately running with a gun already out," Lee said. The driver shot the deputy from behind, hitting him in the back of the head.
Soon after, Solis got back in his car and drove away. A short time later, a deputy found a nervous man matching the description of the driver at a nearby shopping center, Lee explained.
A woman who is said to have been a passenger in the car was also taken into custody. It was not clear whether she would face charges. It was reported that the 42-year-old Dhaliwal was pronounced dead at Memorial Hermann Hospital,
Gonzalez added that the weapon used to kill Dhaliwal was recovered. "It's the worst day, the worst nightmare for any police executive," Gonzalez said.
Adrian Garcia, Harris County police commissioner paid a rich tribute to Dhaliwal as well. "This guy had a heart of gold, he treated his brothers and sisters in law enforcement as if they were just brothers and sisters."
"He thought of them before he thought of himself. He thought of the broader community before he thought of himself," he added.
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner tweeted a statement that read "Dhaliwal represented the diversity and inclusiveness of our community and everything that is good."
Texas Governor, Greg Abbott, also released a statement saying "this tragic loss is a grave reminder of the risks that our law enforcement officers face every single day."
The statement further thanked the officers who responded to apprehend the suspect. "I assure you that the state of Texas is committed to bringing this killer to justice," Abbott said.
He added that his wife Cecilia "and I ask all Texans to join us in praying for the family and the entire Harris County Sheriff's Department." Gonzalez in his tweet explained that Solis was wanted on a parole violation warrant dating back to January 2017.
He was reportedly accused of threatening his girlfriend and possessing a prohibited weapon. Click2Houston reported that he was sentenced to more than 20 years in prison in 2002 for aggravated kidnapping, but was released on parole in 2014. His parole would have expired in 2022.