PlazAmericas shooting: Cop Neil Adams shot dead with his own gun as tributes paid to officer who was ‘one of our heroes’

A TEXAS police officer was shot dead with his service weapon while responding to a disturbance at a Houston mall.

San Jacinto County Deputy Constable Neil Adams was killed Wednesday while working an off-duty job at the PlazAmericas Mall – when there was an altercation with a suspect, described as a 35-year-old man.

KHOU

San Jacinto County Deputy Constable Neil Adams was killed on Wednesday while working an off-duty job at the PlazAmericas Mall[/caption]

AP

A 35-year-old male suspect wrestled Adams on the ground and was able to gain access to his service weapon[/caption]

AP

Neil Adams was transported to a hospital, where he died of his injuries[/caption]

“There was some kind of altercation with a suspect. The suspect was able to gain control of his gun … very sadly, shot it,” Houston Police Chief Troy Finner said.

Adams was immediately transported to the hospital with a gunshot wound; however, he died from his injuries.

“He’s a hero. He’s a hero and we want to honor him,” Finner said of Adams.

Officials said after the shooting, the suspect made his way to the food court, where he was found by two Houston Police Department officers who had been called for an officer assist.

Investigators said the suspect threatened them with a sharp object, and both officers fired their weapons.

The suspect, whose identity has not been released, later died at the hospital.

Adams served with the San Jacinto County Constable Precinct 1 since 2012.

He was the environmental officer for all of Harris County, said his boss, Constable Roy Rogers.

‘WE LOST ONE OF OUR HEROES’

“We lost one of our heroes. He was a good man. He worked hard (to) take care of his family … to take care of the constituents of our county. Y’all please pray for Deputy Constable Adams’ family,” Rogers said.

Fighting tears, Dee Dee Adams spoke out and asked for prayers for all law enforcement officers, just a few hours after her husband was shot and killed.

“My husband always said you can either be a sheep or a sheepdog and I want everybody to pray for all the sheepdogs out there that are protecting everybody,” Dee Dee, the San Jacinto County Treasurer, said.

“They get a bad rap and they just want to protect. That’s what they want to do in their heart. Everybody’s turned their back on them and everybody should pray for all of them because they’re here for you.”

Investigators are still trying to piece together what sparked the initial altercation between the deputy and the suspect.

AP

Neil Adams served with the San Jacinto County Constable Precinct 1 since 2012[/caption]

AP

Adams was the former environmental officer for all of Harris County[/caption]