Incident: Tuesday, October 20, 2026, south of Canton, Texas. Reported by the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office overnight and on Wednesday, October 21.
A Van Zandt County sheriff’s deputy was shot and killed late Tuesday night while helping the Canton Police Department serve felony warrants at a home in the 4300 block of State Highway 198, just south of Canton.
According to the sheriff’s office, deputies were deployed around 10 p.m. The man at the home was wanted on Canton Police Department warrants for aggravated assault and aggravated assault on a peace officer. As officers approached the home, shots were fired from inside. The gunfire was reported at about 10:22 p.m.
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The deputy and a Canton police officer were both struck. Officers returned fire. The deputy was pronounced dead. The Canton officer was taken to a local hospital; the officer’s condition has not been released.
The suspect was found dead inside the home from a gunshot wound. Officials have not said whether the wound was self-inflicted or came from the exchange of gunfire. The suspect has not been identified.
The deputy’s name has not been released. The Texas Rangers are leading the investigation.
Officials described the shooting as an isolated incident and said there is no threat to the public. State Highway 198 was closed between FM 3227 and County Road 2211 and has since reopened.
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