Funeral held for Van Zandt County deputy killed in the line of duty
Funeral honors fallen Van Zandt County deputy
Family, friends, fellow law enforcement officers and the community gather in Canton to honor Van Zandt County Deputy Ahmed "Adam" Al-Sherifi, who was killed in the line of duty while serving warrants.
CANTON, Texas - A funeral service was held on Wednesday for Van Zandt County Deputy Ahmed "Adam" Al-Sherifi.
Van Zandt County Deputy Killed
What's new:
Deputy Al-Sherifi’s body was escorted by motorcade to Gravity Athletics on State Highway 64 in Canton and fellow officers gave him a final salute as his casket, draped in an American flag, was moved inside for the service.
The service was open to the public. He was honored for his service and mourned both by those who knew him well and those he never met.
Afterward, his family said their final goodbyes during a private service at the cemetery.
What they're saying:
Close friends who spoke about him said he was more than just a law enforcement officer. He was a husband and father of three, including a newborn baby girl.
"I don’t know how I can handle 12 years of friendship and brotherhood down into one seat to show how much Adam meant to me, but I’m going to try," said Abel Barrientos, one of Deputy Al-Sherifi’s best friends and a pastor. "Today we remember more than the badge he wore or the uniform he put on. We remember the man behind them. We remember his character, his relationships, his laughter, his experience, and the moments that made him who he was."
Al-Sherifi’s sister-in-law spoke on behalf of the family’s behalf.
"If you were lucky enough to know someone like him, you were truly blessed," she said.
The sentiment was echoed by all who knew him.
"He was the best man at my wedding," Caden Hammond said. "So many of us here will spend the rest of our life trying to honor who he was. How lucky are we to have known someone that makes saying goodbye so hard."
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The backstory:
Al-Sherifi was shot and killed on Oct. 20 while trying to serve warrants for aggravated assault and aggravated assault on a peace officer.
Investigators said 42-year-old Mi Van Nguyen fired more than 800 rounds from a semiautomatic rifle as deputies and police officers approached his home.
He fatally shot the deputy, as well as Canton Police Officer Chris Watson. He is recovering after surgery to remove a bullet from his arm.
Van Zandt County deputy killed, Canton officer injured in shootout
A Tuesday night shootout near Canton over an arrest warrant left a Van Zandt County deputy dead, a Canton police officer injured, and a felony suspect dead.
Nguyen was found dead inside his home following the shootout. It’s still not clear if he was hit by return fire or a self-inflicted bullet.
Van Zandt County Sheriff Kevin Bridger called what happened an "act of pure evil."
"This was not simply an attack on law enforcement. It was an attack on the peace and security that every family in Van Zandt County and all counties deserve. It is this kind of evil that has no place in our communities," Sheriff Bridger said.
Al-Sherifi leaves behind a wife and three young children, including a new baby born last month.
The Source: The information in this story comes from the Van Zandt County Sheriff's Office and past news coverage.