Montgomery Police Department, Alabama
End of Watch: Saturday, September 30, 2006
Age: 30
Tour of Duty: 2 years
Badge Number: 1775
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: September 28, 2006
Weapon Used: Handgun
Suspect Info: Sentenced to death
Officer Keith Houts succumbed to a gunshot wound inflicted two days earlier while making a traffic stop on North Decatur Street, just a few blocks from police headquarters, at 12:45 pm.
After shooting Officer Houts in the head, the killer shot him several times in the chest as he laid on the ground, but the shots were all stopped by his vest.
Officer Houts was transported to Jackson Hospital where he remained in critical condition until succumbing to his wounds.
The killer fled the area and was captured in McDonough, Georgia, by members of the United States Marshals Service. He was immediately extradited back to Montgomery and charged with capital murder. He was subsequently sentenced to death.
Officer Houts was a veteran of the War on Terrorism. He had served with the Montgomery Police Department for 2 years and is survived by his wife, parents, and sister.