Deputy Sheriff Royce Melvin Anderson

Royce Melvin Anderson

Deputy Sheriff Royce Anderson succumbed to an inadvertent gunshot wound sustained the previous night while making a felony arrest at 9:45 pm.

He and his partner had responded to a truck stop on I-45 for a weapons violation. After interviewing a stabbing victim they obtained a description of the suspect and his truck. The deputies located the vehicle and stopped it near the FM 149 overpass and took both occupants into custody at gunpoint. As Deputy Anderson re-holstered his weapon it discharged, striking him in the upper leg and severing all of his major arteries.

He was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to the wound at 5:05 am the following morning.

Deputy Anderson had served with the Harris County Sheriff's Office for two years. He was survived by his wife and two children.