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Published on November 28, 2023
Tarrant County Deputy Downed in Fort Worth, Suspect in Cuffs for Attempted Capital MurderSource: Google Street View

In an act of criminal brazenness that has left the local law enforcement community reeling, an off-duty Tarrant County Sheriff's Office deputy was gunned down while serving as the keeper of peace at a Fort Worth credit union. Deputy Brent Brown, a 35-year-old seasoned lawman with the sheriff's office since 2011, courageously faced an armed assailant when the tranquility of the afternoon was shattered by gunfire, as per CBS News.

Working a second job as a security guard at the Fort Worth Community Credit Union, Deputy Brown was caught in a violent exchange of bullets after a suspect, identified as 35-year-old Leland Williams, pulled a handgun on a teller. Found with the front door's glass shattered, in a confrontation that sent Brown to the operating table with wounds to his abdomen and chest, bullets that marked the price of his commitment to serve and to protect.

While prayers and support poured in for Deputy Brown from community members and colleagues alike, TCSO head Bill Waybourn stood by the injured hero's side, asserting with tempered optimism that "He's young, he's vigorous and he's resilient so we have confidence that he'll do just fine". Brown's condition has been reported to be stable following the surgery, yet he remains in intensive care, a stark reminder of the thin blue line's vulnerability, as per NBC DFW.

The Fort Worth Police Department was on the scene in minutes, exemplifying professionalism as they sought to piece together the chaos. "It always this close to home when an officer is violently injured by a violent criminal like this," lamented Fort Worth Police Chief Neil Noakes at a 6 p.m. briefing. In a testament to the gravity of the situation, federal agents from the FBI were also called in to bolster the investigative efforts, as reported by WFAA.