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Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Back issues
Courthouse News Service Courthouse News Service

Houston Lawman Shot |in the Back, Survives

HOUSTON (CN) — A Harris County lawman and father of five was shot six times from behind early Thursday morning in Houston as he leaned into his patrol car.

Alden Clopton is an 11-year veteran of Harris County Constable Precinct 7, Constable May Walker told KTRH radio. He has five children and his wife is a Harris County sheriff's deputy.

Four of the bullets entered Clopton's side and back, though he was wearing a bulletproof vest, Walker said.

He is in stable condition after hours of surgery at Memorial Hermann Hospital.

The shooting happened shortly after midnight near the Texas Southern University campus after Clopton did a traffic stop outside a convenience store.

Walker said Clopton was leaning into his patrol car showing a reserve deputy trainee how to use its radio when he was shot.

The trainee got off one shot at the fleeing suspect, who was dressed in black, Walker said.

Walker told KTRH that a "person of interest" is being questioned, but he or she does not match the shooter's description.

Texas constables and their deputies serve legal papers, seize property in execution of judgments and are bailiffs in Harris County courtrooms.

They also patrol neighborhoods and investigate crimes like Harris County sheriff's officers.

The ambush shooting recalls the August 2015 shooting of Harris County sheriff's Officer Darren Goforth.

Goforth was shot 15 times from behind on Aug. 28, 2015 as he filled up his squad car at a Houston gas station.

Shannon Miles, 31, is in Harris County Jail, charged with the capital murder for that shooting. Miles, who is schizophrenic, is awaiting transfer to a state mental hospital after a judge found him incompetent to stand trial.

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