3 Men Charged In Shooting Death Of Harris County Sheriff's Deputy

HOUSTON, TX — Three men have been charged with capital murder in the shooting death of an off-duty Harris County Sheriff's deputy on Thursday night, according to court documents obtained by Patch.

Joshua Stewart, 23, and Fredarius Clark, 19, were arrested early Friday, according to the Harris County Sheriff's Office. Fredrick Tardy, 17, was arrested later Friday, according to Harris County Jail records.

The three men have been charged with capital murder and have been denied bond. All three had court appearances Monday, and Clark and Tardy both have arraignments scheduled Tuesday morning, court documents show.

Darren Almendarez, 51, was off duty and grocery shopping at Joe V's Smart Shop on FM 1960 in Westfield with his wife when he saw a black Nissan Altima backed up to his truck and two men underneath his truck. He told his wife to get to safety before confronting the three men now in the Altima, according to authorities.

When Almendarez approached, the men shot him multiple times, and he was able to return fire and hit two of the men before they fled in the Altima, police said.

Almendarez was taken to Houston Northwest Hospital, where he died. Stewart and Clark arrived at the same hospital in the Altima a short time later with both suffering from gunshot wounds.

The men were attempting to steal the catalytic converter underneath Almendarez's truck, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said. His family was preparing to hold a cookout celebration for Almendarez's sister.

Almenarez served with the Harris County Sheriff's Office for 23 years and spent the last year on the agency's auto theft unit.

"He loved to be a deputy," Gonzalez said. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife, children, his extended family, colleagues and friends."

The Harris County Sheriff's Office held an honor cordon and police escort for Almendarez to his funeral home Monday morning.

Almendarez's funeral will be held at noon Friday at Humble First Assembly of God church. Family visitation will begin at 10 a.m. followed by public visitation at 11 a.m. A police honors ceremony will take place at 1 p.m. in the church parking lot, and the procession to the burial at Brookside Funeral Home and Memorial Park will begin at 2 p.m.