Van Zandt County Deputy Adam Sherifi Killed in Shootout While Serving Warrants Near Canton

A Van Zandt County sheriff's deputy has been killed and a Canton police officer wounded in a shootout while officers served felony warrants at a house south of Canton, Texas, on Tuesday night, the sheriff's office said.

Deputies were helping Canton police serve warrants at a home in the 4300 block of State Highway 198, according to the Van Zandt County Sheriff's Office, in a statement reported by The Dallas Morning News, FOX 4 and KLTV. The suspect had outstanding felony warrants for aggravated assault and aggravated assault on a peace officer.

At about 10:22 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 20, officers reported shots fired from inside the house toward the deputies and officers outside. Officers returned fire, the sheriff's office said.

Deputy named, officer flown to hospital

The deputy who was killed was identified on Wednesday as Adam Sherifi. His brother identified him, CBS19 reported, and Van Zandt County Court at Law Judge Joshua Wintters confirmed his name to KLTV. Sherifi leaves a wife and three children, one of them born in September, Police1 and CBS19 reported.

The wounded Canton officer was identified as Christopher Watson. He was shot in the arm, flown to a hospital in Plano for surgery, and faced a possible amputation, according to reports citing county officials. By midday Wednesday the wounded officer was in stable condition, FOX 4 reported.

Officers found the suspect dead inside the house from a gunshot wound. Investigators have not said whether the wound was self inflicted or came from officers returning fire. The sheriff's office described the shooting as an isolated incident with no ongoing threat to the public.

Rangers investigate, county gathers

The Texas Rangers, part of the Texas Department of Public Safety, are investigating the shooting.

Community members gathered at noon on Wednesday on the front steps of the Van Zandt County Courthouse to pray for Sherifi's family and for the wounded officer, FOX 4 reported. The City of Canton asked residents to pray for the deputy's family and for the injured officer. State Sen. Bob Hall, who represents Van Zandt County, and U.S. Rep. Lance Gooden also asked people to pray for both families, according to reports.

"My heart goes out to the Van Zandt County Sheriff's Office as they mourn the loss of Deputy Adam Sherifi," Malakoff Mayor Nicole Mason-Driver wrote, in a post reported by WFAA. "I extend my deepest condolences to his wife, his children, his loved ones, and his entire law enforcement family."

Hours after the shooting, the same county was hit by a second tragedy, when a house fire near Canton killed a mother and her four young children early on Wednesday. County officials dealt with both losses on the same day.