Houston Department’s First Sikh Deputy Fatally Shot From Behind During A Traffic Stop

The first Sikh who made history by becoming a deputy at a Houston-area sheriff’s department was fatally shot in the head from behind Friday, authorities said.

Sandeep Dhaliwal, who was described as a trailblazer who paved the way for other Sikhs to join the department, was conducting a routine traffic stop when he was shot as he walked away from the suspect’s vehicle,  Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said at a press conference.

According to CNN, Dhaliwal was headed back to his patrol car during the traffic stop when a man got out of the vehicle with a pistol and killed him in cold blood.

“In a cold-blooded manner, ambush-style, (he) shot Deputy Dhaliwal from behind,” Gonzalez said.

Texas law enforcement officials have arrested 47-year-old Robert Solis and charged him with capital murder in connection with Dhaliwal’s murder, the sheriff’s office said via Twitter Friday night. A female passenger was also taken into custody.

Dhaliwal’s dashcam footage helped cops identify Solis as the dashcam captured the fatal moment Dhaliwal was shot from behind.

Maj. Mike Lee with the sheriff’s office described his review of Dhaliwal’s dashcam to CNN affiliate KTRK-TV.

The video shows Dhaliwal speaking with the driver without incident, “no combat, no arguing,” Lee said. “The driver’s door was open at one point as the deputy and driver were talking”, he continued.

Deputy Dhaliwal shut the driver’s door, as the driver remained in the vehicle, Lee said. As Dhaliwal turned to walk back to his patrol car, the driver’s side door opened and the man could be seen exiting the vehicle “almost immediately running with a gun already out,” Lee stated.

Solis was captured about a mile away from the crime scene.

Dhaliwal’s friends and colleagues regarded him as a trailblazer. He was a 10-year veteran who is survived by his wife and three children.