(WBAP/KLIF) – Fort Worth police officer Garrett Hull, who was shot in the head while confronting robbery suspects early Friday morning, has died. Fort Worth Police Chief Joel Fitzgerald announced Hull’s death in a news conference just after midnight at the John Peter Smith Hospital were Hull was being treated.
Hull was a 17-year veteran of the force, was pronounced dead at 9:40 p.m. Friday night at John Peter Smith Hospital.
A Facebook post from the Fort Worth Police Department’s page read: “It is with profound sadness that we must inform you that Officer Garrett Hull passed away Friday at 9:40 p.m. He was with family, friends and fellow officers. Please continue to pray for his family and those that need it in this tragic time.”
Chief Fitzgerald added during the press conference: “There’s not a dry eye in the house, our whole department is hurting right now. We’ve received messages throughout the country, not just the North Texas community in support of Officer Hull and his family.”
Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price also was present during the press conference and said: “Officer Hull’s death is the worst case scenario for our men and women in blue.”
Hull was conducting surveillance on three robbery suspects when they went into the Los Vaqueros sports bar at about midnight Thursday in the 400 block of West Biddison Street, according to police.
Chief Joel Fitzgerald said Dacion Steptoe, one of the suspects in the robbery, shot Officer Hull, and then police fatally shot Steptoe. Samuel Mayfield and Timothy Huff were named as the other two suspects involved, police said. Police said the suspects robbed the bar, and that’s when the officer confronted them. As the suspects were running, Steptoe turned and fired, striking Hull in the head. Another officer returned fire, killing Steptoe, according to police.
A fellow officer at the scene rushed Hull to John Peter Smith Hospital in his police car. The investigation into the crime is ongoing.
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