A tragic incident unfolded this week as a Harris County Precinct 4 deputy was fatally shot while en route to work, leading to the subsequent arrest and charging of Athir Murady. Murady now faces a murder charge in Harris County and evading arrest in Galveston County according to a statement obtained by the Houston Chronicle. The victim, Deputy Maher Husseini, was ambushed at a southwest Houston intersection while seated in his vehicle.
Husseini's accused killer, who according to prosecutors could face a $5 million bond, was apprehended after diving into the waters of Galveston Bay and resisting arrest, the Houston Chronicle reports.
During the arrest, Murady sustained injuries after reportedly being bitten by a police K-9, his appearance evidently marred in video coverage of the suspect being walked to jail by ABC13. "I kind of watch it, and I kind of don't want to watch it because I know what happened earlier in the day," said Sgt. Nick Yeley of the Galveston police, who spotted the suspect's vehicle and alerted authorities in an interview with ABC13.
The Houston Chronicle explains that the chase through League City culminated with the suspect's vehicle plunging into the bay, where he was retrieved by boat rescue. As of now, officials have yet to publicize a motive for this violent act. Husseini, who joined the constable's office in 2021, had just recently been promoted to corporal. He had also run for sheriff as a Democrat in Montgomery County in 2020, focusing his campaign on mental health and criminal justice reform.
In the wake of this tragedy, local law enforcement mourns one of their own. Constable Mark Herman, in a statement, captured by ABC13, remarked on the need for stronger responses to criminal behavior saying, "It's too much. There's total chaos in our communities and we got to get it fixed." The loss of Deputy Husseini, who was married and left behind children, has left the community in mourning. A public visitation and funeral service were held at the Masjid Alsalem Mosque, leading to heavy traffic in the vicinity as community members paid their respects.
As for Murady, he is expected to face a magistrate judge, as confirmed by the Galveston County District Attorney's Office through ABC13. The DA's office will seek to deny bail for the suspect who led authorities on a harrowing chase across county lines before his eventual capture.
