A veteran Texas sheriff’s deputy who was set to retire in September was shot at his Round Rock home early Monday morning and later died from his injuries, officials said, announcing that they were searching for two suspects.
(FOX)- Sgt. Craig Hutchinson, who was on the force for 32 years, he used his law enforcement radio to call for help shortly before 1:30 a.m., and responding officers found Hutchinson laying in the back yard of his home, Travis County Sheriff Greg Hamilton said during a Monday news conference.
“He was my field training officer,” Hamilton said.”So this is near and dear to me. This guy was a big teddy bear and everybody loved him. He was a gentle bear and he taught me everything I know…I loved that guy to death.”
Hamilton said “there’s no suggestion” the shooting was an ambush situation, and it’s more likely that Hutchinson walked in on a burglar attempting to steal from his shed. There was equipment missing from Hutchinson’s shed and there had been other recent burglaries in the area, Hamilton said.
Hutchinson died at Round Rock Medical Center.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.