2 Henderson Co Deputies Killed in Shootout ~Services planned

[TxBlonde]

Two Henderson County Deputies Killed in Shootout

Last Edited: Thursday, 17 May 2007, 9:18 PM CDT
Created: Thursday, 17 May 2007, 5:57 PM CDT


Authorities have identified the gunman they say shot and killed two Henderson County sheriff's deputies and wounded another Thursday. Randall Mays of Payne Springs is accused of ambushing the deputies.

The deputies were shot while responding to a domestic disturbance near this East Texas town, sheriff's Lt. Pat McWilliams said.

McWilliams said Mays was shot in the elbow and his side and taken to a hospital. He did not know Mays' condition. A woman who was in the home was not injured and was being interviewed by Texas Rangers.

McWilliams said the wounded deputy's injuries did not appear life-threatening.

Diane Strickland, a nursing supervisor at East Texas Medical Center in Tyler, declined to release information about two men who were seen being transported into the hospital Thursday night.

A man in a law enforcement uniform was taken by stretcher into the hospital with what appeared to be a leg injury. Another man, also on a stretcher, was taken into the hospital guarded by law officers.

One of the officers killed was in uniform and the other was a plainclothes investigator, McWilliams said.

The officers were responding to a domestic disturbance when the suspect opened fire, McWilliams said.

"Upon arrival, he opened fire on them and caught them out in the open. They tried to take cover," McWilliams said. "As a result, we have two dead."

The three deputies were shot by a high-powered rifle, McWilliams said.

The uniformed deputy who died was wearing a bulletproof vest "but that doesn't protect you from a high-powered rife," McWilliams said. It was unclear if the plainclothes investigator was wearing a vest.

Mays' next-door neighbor said he witnessed the shootings and said his neighbor was armed with a rifle and had two pistols tucked into his belt.

"I saw him run to one side of the house and I heard shots down there ... and then he ran to the other side of the house and I heard shots from there," neighbor Russell Hicks said. "Then he ran into the house ... and when I saw him come out, he had blood all over him. When he got to the end of the chicken coop they told him to get down and he got down."

Hicks said his 47-year-old neighbor dressed in Army fatigues and used bales of hay as target practice almost every day. He would occasionally shoot at hawks that tried to make off with chickens that ran loose in the yard, Hicks said.

"I never had any problems with the guy," Hicks said. "If I needed help, he helped me. And if he needed help, I helped him."

Neighbor Ralph Satchell described the person living there as "a hard man."

"He's kind of a tough hombre," Satchell said.

Television footage showed police cars lining a dirt road near the farmhouse in the rural area. McWilliams said there were goats and chickens on the property, but it did not appear to be a working farm. It is a rural area, but there are several other homes nearby, he said.

The officers' identities were not being released until their families are notified, McWilliams said.

Payne Springs is about 50 miles southeast of Dallas.

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I know the man that did this.

Randall Mays-Noble

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http://www.myfoxdfw.com/myfox/pages/Hom ... geId=1.1.1


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Edited to add that that I have not spoken to the man since December 2004

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5/17/07-Henderson County
Henderson Co. Sheriff's Deputies Killed, One Injured, Accused Gunman In Custody

KLTV 7 has confirmed with Lieutenant Pat McWillams that two Henderson County sheriff's deputies have been fatally shot, one has been injured (with non-life threatening injuries). This is after a reported domestic disturbance call at a rural home near the Payne Springs area.

The Suspect

Lt. McWilliams said the gunman- identified as 48 year old Randall Mays of Eustace was also shot. He's being flown to a Tyler hospital. Authorities said Mays used a high-powered rifle killing the deputies.

KLTV 7 obtained criminal records indicating that Mays has had some trouble with the law in the past. He's been convicted of driving under the influence of drugs (1983), fleeing from police, criminal mischief, and has been charged with resisting an officer (1987).

The Henderson County Sheriff's Deputies

The uniformed deputy, has been taken to ETMC in Tyler. He appeared to suffer from a leg injury.

McWilliams said one of the deputies was wearing his uniform, the other was in his plain clothes.

The deputies just had their peace officer memorial service this afternoon. No word on the deputies' identities. No word on the condition of the injured officer, or gunman.

We have a crew headed to the scene. Stay tuned to KLTV 7 News at 10pm for the very latest.

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http://cbs11tv.com/topstories/local_sto ... 84606.html

Has video about it. They have three videos.

[TIN BENDER]

I just got that feeling.
knot in my throat.
Everything inside just fell.
A big empty feeling.
Alligator tears.
Please pray for all involved.
Alligator tears.

[TxBlonde]

I have been crying since I saw on the news that I know the cold hearted person that did this.

They are also reporting that he held his wife Hostage and used her as a human shield.

SO SO SAD.

[TIN BENDER]

Txblond, please keep us posted on what is going on.
Thank you for your initial post.
I'll be praying for you also.
I hope thats not to personal but to all; Where else can you turn?

[TxBlonde]

This is the first place I thought of when I heard this.

This guy is an alcoholic and he was one of those people that was real nice one minute then acted like he was going to hurt you the next. That is why I stopped going over there.

[TxBlonde]

Two officers killed in Henderson County shootout

10:01 PM CDT on Thursday, May 17, 2007

From WFAA-TV Staff Reports

WFAA-TV
Randall Mays

PAYNE SPRINGS - Two deputies were fatally shot, a third wounded and a suspect shot after a domestic dispute was reported in Payne Springs, which is located about 50 miles southeast of Dallas in Henderson County.

Authorities said the Henderson County Sheriff's Department deputies were veteran officers and were shot with a high-powered rifle while in the midst of a shootout with the suspect, Randall Mays of Eustace.

"Upon arrival, he opened fire on them and caught them out in the open. They tried to take cover," McWilliams said. "As a result, we have two dead."

While two deputies died, another deputy was shot in the leg and his wounds aren't believed to be life-threatening.

Mays was shot in the elbow, transported to a Tyler hospital and his condition is unknown. A woman at the site of the shooting was unharmed.

The incident happened only hours after the deputies attended a peace officers memorial to honor those slain in the line of duty, sheriff's Lt. Pat McWilliams said.

The gunman's next-door neighbor said he witnessed the shootings and said Mays was armed with a rifle and had two pistols tucked into his belt.

"I saw him run to one side of the house and I heard shots down there ... and then he ran to the other side of the house and I heard shots from there," neighbor Russell Hicks said. "Then he ran into the house ... and when I saw him come out, he had blood all over him. When he got to the end of the chicken coop they told him to get down and he got down."

Hicks said Mays dressed in Army fatigues and used bales of hay as target practice almost every day. He would occasionally shoot at hawks that tried to make off with chickens that ran loose in the yard, Hicks said.

"I never had any problems with the guy," Hicks said. "If I needed help, he helped me. And if he needed help, I helped him." Neighbor Ralph Satchell described Mays as "a hard man." "He's kind of a tough hombre," Satchell said.

Mays was convicted of three crimes during the '80s, which included fleeing from police, driving under the influence and criminal mischief.

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From the Athens Review:

Breaking News

Two Henderson County sheriff's deputies were shot and killed, and a third wounded, Thursday afternoon after responding to a domestic disturbance call in the Payne Springs area. The shooter, Randall Wayne Mays, of Eustace was taken into custody and transported to a Tyler hospital with injuries sustained in the incident. Officials continue to investigate. No further details are available at this time.

[anygunanywhere]

Let me insert the needle.

Anygun

[NguyenVanDon]

This is the first place I thought of when I heard this.

This guy is an alcoholic and he was one of those people that was real nice one minute then acted like he was going to hurt you the next. That is why I stopped going over there.

So he was an alcoholic. Is he also bipolar?

[TxBlonde]

From my experiences with a few people that are on meds for bipolar, yeah I think so.

Let me insert the needle.

Anygun

I can not agree more. Even if I knew him. No room in the world for people like him.

Beat he trys an insanity plea.

Also Heard he was using his wife as a human shield. If I have not already said this.

[Wildscar]

Let me insert the needle.

Anygun

That's too good for him. Unfortunately the 10yr old daughter rule keeps me from posting what I really think should happen.

I hate to read stuff like this.

[TxBlonde]

We all can probably think of what you wanted to say.

Channel 4 news out of DFW was saying Henderson has not lost an officer like this since 1970 something.

[TxBlonde]

The Three Officer's names were released:

They are:

Deceased:

Tony Ogburne

Paul Habelt

Injured:

Kevin Harris

[TxBlonde]

Have now heard that he ambushed them. Telling them that he was not armed and then when they emerged he shot them in the head.

Remember Pray for these fallen officers and ALL of the families involved.

[frankie_the_yankee]

This is the first place I thought of when I heard this.

This guy is an alcoholic and he was one of those people that was real nice one minute then acted like he was going to hurt you the next. That is why I stopped going over there.

This illustrates something I have done my best to pound into my children. Be selective as to who you choose to hang out with. Bad things do not happen "randomly". Most often, they happen around bad, irresponsible, unstable people.

This insight has saved me a lot of grief over the years. I became aware of it as I was growing up. It looks like you did too.

[stroo]

Comes from Psalm 1 and Proverbs 1 and 2. Don't walk with bad people.

Too bad the deputies didn't kill this guy. I have to believe that he will get the death penalty. Unfortunately it will take several years to kill him