An off-duty Tarrant County deputy's routine security job turned deadly when a suspect unleashed a barrage of bullets in a Fort Worth credit union, striking him twice and sparking a manhunt that ended with the shooter behind bars. Deputy Brent Brown, sporting his uniform outside his regular patrol hours, was thrust into gunfire at the East Fort Worth financial institution, sustaining wounds to his chest and abdomen, as FOX 4 News detailed.
The alleged gunman, 35-year-old Leland Williams, found his bond amped up to a staggering $1,000,000, a move applauded by local officials and the law enforcement community. This sharp increase came about after Tarrant County District Attorney Phil Sorrells and his office pushed for his detainment, with Sorrells saying, "We are going to do everything we can to protect those who protect us", per Fort Worth Police.
We just learned that the bond for Leland Williams, who shot and injured a @TarrantcountySO deputy last night has been raised to $1,000,000. Thank you to @TarrantCountyDA Phil Sorrells and his office for working to ensure this violent suspect stays in jail where he cannot pose a…
— Fort Worth Police (@fortworthpd) November 28, 2023
Post-shooting, Deputy Brown was rushed to the ICU where his condition is stable, yet he remains under intensive care's watchful eye with a promising prognosis. Fort Worth's police force, alongside a SWAT team, swiftly tracked down Williams, while nearby residents like Rutger Vanzanten experienced the tense aftermath of the operation, recalling, "I heard the helicopters going over, and I walked outside, and I see cops over here, cops over there. blocking everything," according to a narrative from Hoodline.
The incident has jolted the local community, eliciting reactions from figures like Tarrant County Commissioner Manny Ramirez who called the initial $100,000 bond "a slap in the face," thereby echoing the shock waves felt throughout the echelons of law enforcement. Tarrant County judge Tim O'Hare weighed in on the saga, condemning the initial bond as "ridiculously low and totally unacceptable," as obtained by FOX 4 News.
